Bike shop cafe to close in Fort Greene

A popular bicycle repair shop café that serves drinks to customers who are waiting for their bikes to be serviced is closing.
Red Lantern Bicycles is described as a funky bike shop that customizes commuter rides and offers repair classes, as well as coffee and beer to its customers.
However, Brian Gluck, the owner of the store, says he’s closing his Myrtle Avenue business after seven years, primarily due to rising rent costs.
He says besides rent, a number of bike components and accessories are being sold at a huge discount he just can’t compete with.
“When we signed the lease here, there was no Citi Bike or other bike share programs. Those programs really impacted the number of bikes we repaired and limited the types of service we did,” he says.
Gluck says the store will close at the end of November, and he does not plan on opening another bike shop.