Deerfield Cyclery

Deerfield Cyclery (Handout)

Name: Greg and Kathye Balmes

Hometown: Glenview, currently live in Libertyville

Name of business: Deerfield Cyclery

Describe what you do/sell/serve:

We are a full cyclery with bike sales and service. We carry kids bikes all the way up to carbon fiber road bikes. We have a ride club with 75 riders from local communities.

What sets you apart from similar businesses?

Our No. 1 focus through our 25 years (of owning the store) has been customer service.

What made you want to open this type of store?

My father owned several bike shops while I was growing up, and that is where my interest came from.

Why did you pick this specific location/storefront?

It was a turn key operation and had been a bike store since 1954.

What obstacles did you find when you started?

When we first opened, it was a Schwinn store only, and when that company went bankrupt and into the department stores, we needed to reinvent ourselves.

Did you make use of any programs or incentives offered by an organization or local government? There was no government help at all.


I think all local governments should let the business run themselves. To get any approval from our village is very time consuming and very difficult.

What mistakes did you make?

Getting into the social media arena a year or two later than we should have.

What did you do right?

We made sure that we would own our building outright.

What are your hours/address/phone number/website:

We are open weekly 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Phone: 847-945-0700. Web: Address: 705 Waukegan Road, Deerfield.
