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COVID-19 Has Crippled Many Businesses But One San Diego Bike Shop Is Thriving

Manager Andrew Hargis of MJ’s Cyclery in Hillcrest stands in his shop, Dec. 8,2020.
Matthew Bowler
Manager Andrew Hargis of MJ’s Cyclery in Hillcrest stands in his shop, Dec. 8,2020.

2020 has been a tough year. Pandemic restrictions have come with personal and economic challenges for many people. But for one local bike shop, business is booming.

Andrew Hargis, the manager at MJ’s Cyclery in Hillcrest, said his shop was impacted by COVID-19.

“Two of our coworkers, one had to go take care of family, the other one is staying at home because they have elderly family members and they don't want to expose them to COVID,” he said.

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With MJ’s down to three workers, the shop has become like the little engine that could, Hargis said.

“It was hard for a while," he said. "It's just been three of us ... going and going and going and getting it done.”

Parts are impossible to get and they’ve had bikes on backorder for most of the year, Hargis said.

“Tons of backorders of stuff ... waiting on about 100 or so bikes. And we ordered most of those bikes six-plus months ago," he said. "Really hard to get anything you need.”

Customers keep coming in and Hargis said MJ’s will keep doing its best to keep everyone rolling during the year of the pandemic.