Bike Shop Reveals Plans To Become Cycling Hot Spot

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A small bike shop that has been open for less than a year has revealed some ambitious plans. An extreme transformation is on the way, bringing with it a new place to eat, drink and gather.

Business So Far

BonduBikes opened in May of 2024 at 13 NE Main St. in Bondurant, at the north end of the city’s original downtown area, less than a block from the Chichaqua Valley Trail. The business operates out of a home that was built in 1870, and sells and rents out e-bikes, along with servicing e-bikes and “acoustic” bikes.

Dawn and Josh LaRue own BonduBikes. Dawn told DSM Bike Notes they had talked for years about opening a bike shop when the opportunity finally arose last year.

“We were sitting at a bar in downtown Bondurant and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s a property for sale! I think we can swing it!’ We went and looked at it, put in and offer and just rolled,” LaRue said. “With it being so close to the bike trail, how do you beat that? How do you not do a bike business there?”

Ambitious Plan

While the bike shop is based out of the 155-year-old, two-story home, the LaRues haven’t exactly been utilizing the space.

“Last year we ran the bike shop out of the front yard and out of a trailer,” LaRue said. “We actually did really, really well.”

But all of that is about to change. BonduBikes will soon undergo a transformation that could turn a forgotten old house into a hot spot for central Iowa cyclists.

The building is currently gutted. The spring, construction will begin on expanding it all the way out to the sidewalk with a two-story brick and glass addition. The existing home will be renovated.

“We’re going to try to keep the history part of the property,” LaRue said.

The extra space will allow LaRue to add a bar at the back of the home, where she plans to serve high-end cocktails and handmade truffles. That part of the business will be called “Custom Creations.” LaRue said customers will also be able to enjoy the outdoors with a patio area, fire pits and room for yard games.

“We want to connect with our community, and our community being all of the Des Moines area,” she said.

A commercial kitchen will be added, where picnic meals will be assembled for customers headed out for a day on the trail.

The existing part of the business – bike sales, rentals and service – will remain. With the additional room, LaRue said they will be able to add bikes for children and toddlers.

“Bondurant is such a young family community that we want to be able to offer our community a chance to buy here locally," LaRue said.

Next Steps

The next year will be a flurry of activity for BonduBikes. LaRue said by March 1, she hopes to be operating out of a temporary location at 85 Paine St. SE, just off Highway 65. Ideally, construction will begin in March, and it could take a year to complete.

Grants from the state and the City of Bondurant are helping to make the project a reality, but LaRue said the support they’ve seen from the cycling community is what will sustain the business in the long run.

“I know it sounds kind of jumbled and like a whole bunch going on in one space, but it is all around the biking and the trails and getting people to Bondurant,” she said.

A Lot Going On In Bondurant

Thank you for reading this BONUS edition of DSM Bike Notes! I realized this is the third story I’ve written about Bondurant in the three short months I’ve been doing this newsletter! They’re outkicking their coverage for being a pretty small (but quickly growing) town! Here are the other stories about what is going on, and what isn’t going on with cycling in Bondurant. If all goes according to plan, next week’s story will take us to the exact opposite corner of the metro. Thanks for reading, and I promise — only one story next week. Have a great weekend! 😃