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Big Shark Bicycles opens Urban Shark store downtown

Big Shark Bicycles opens Urban Shark store downtown

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PostOct 04, 2010#1

Big Shark Bicycles is opening a downtown store!

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PostOct 04, 2010#2

Cool! You know where?

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PostOct 04, 2010#3

Next to the new bike commuter station at 10th and Locust.

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PostOct 04, 2010#4

Sweet!!! I am a fan of big sharks. Plus they are locally owned.

PostOct 05, 2010#5


PostMay 30, 2011#6

So has anyone had a chance to check out e new store yet? I have and like it. Appears smaller than the store in the Loop but is a nice addition.

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PostMay 31, 2011#7

i was there on Saturday. It's a great store/ center and an incredible addition to downtown. my question though: what is up with the small signage on the store, the Bridge and Left Bank books. Are they trying to have insanely small signage? is this some ridiculous city code? (likely) Look at Bluestein's bridal signage! how about we go back to that era of signage.. seriously, i think the sign for Urban Shark is like two square feet, including both sides..

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PostJun 14, 2011#8

I think I remember it being discussed on this forum, a long time ago, that there were difficult city codes/regulations for signage.

Bike Station and Urban Shark signage:


However, then you see Verizon put up two large signs on their small corner store:


(Images courtesy of the Count, http://countondowntown.com)

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PostJun 15, 2011#9

Absurd.

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PostJun 15, 2011#10

I'd be curious if this is a city thing or the signage plan developed by the building developers. I designed signage for a building that was rehabbed using historic tax credits ( I.e. Lots of regulation) and the blade signage on that building is much larger than what these stores have.

Not saying there weren't regulations I had to follow but it wasn't a problem for me to get a nice sized sign on a historic rehab so I wonder what the difference is here. The biggest problem I ran into was that the sign had to be a certain distance from the ground, I think 10'

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PostJun 16, 2011#11

That Big Shark sign is ridiculous. No one. NO ONE is going to look down the block and say, "Hey, there's a bike shop. I think I'll go check it out." Shameful.

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PostAug 18, 2012#12

I talked to a Big Shark employee and was told that they are breaking even at Urban Shark. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that.

Does anyone know how full the commuter bike station is?

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PostAug 20, 2012#13

How are the small signs even remotely "historic" anyway?! Look at the signage on these buildings in photos from 100 years ago, not only was signage huge, it was often on all or many floors above the retail. This makes me furious. Look at all the cheap signage in this area. Is it a Craig heller thing, or is it really just not allowed? The vinyl flaps for left bank are beyond a joke.

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PostAug 20, 2012#14

jcity wrote:How are the small signs even remotely "historic" anyway?! Look at the signage on these buildings in photos from 100 years ago, not only was signage huge, it was often on all or many floors above the retail. This makes me furious. Look at all the cheap signage in this area. Is it a Craig heller thing, or is it really just not allowed? The vinyl flaps for left bank are beyond a joke.
Agreed. All of these signs are too damn small. There are plenty of ways to make large signs look tasteful. These things look like they'd fit on a T-shirt. :roll:

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PostAug 20, 2012#15

^ the size of the signs are regulated by the city

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PostAug 20, 2012#16

Alex Ihnen wrote:^ the size of the signs are regulated by the city
Do you know where one can find info about specific regulations by chance? I'm sure older signs are grandfathered into current standards, but it still seems like regulations aren't applied uniformly.

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PostAug 20, 2012#17


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PostAug 21, 2012#18

^ That's it. Thanks, Alex!

I'd have to look at the ordinances more thoroughly to have a complete understanding, but after a cursory glance, it looks like zones have been established, and there are more restrictions on the type and size of signs in historic districts.

This seems like something that could be modified for consistency and to enhance the aesthetics and appeal of specific areas, if there's demand to do so, of course.

I doubt that there are many people concerned about the size and the aesthetics of signs in downtown and other commercial districts in the city, but who knows? :wink:

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PostAug 21, 2012#19

^ Exactly. Is someone going to complain if Left Bank Books gets a lighted sign? No. I keep thinking the bridal place sign should be moved to the corner and repainted with "Left" and "Bank" at top-bottom and "Books" vertically. That would rock.

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PostAug 22, 2012#20

I completely agree. What idiot in charge thinks these small signs somehow comply with "historic" guidelines anyway? Its like some people know how ridiculous it is, but they just tell you to apply for a variance. Every large sign on wash ave for example has one. Why is this city always so F ed up?! We have literally hundreds of people at SLDC and Downtown Now and they can't push for this basic change to the code?!

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PostNov 10, 2022#21

This business is moving to the Foundry (https://www.cityfoundrystl.com/). Sad news for the Downtown Neighborhood.

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PostNov 10, 2022#22

jambo wrote:This business is moving to the Foundry (https://www.cityfoundrystl.com/). Sad news for the Downtown Neighborhood.
The move makes perfect sense though. GRG located here and it’ll be eventually the crossroads of the east west and north south portions of Brickline.

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PostNov 10, 2022#23

It made sense downtown too located next to the commuter center. Another loss for downtown.

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PostNov 11, 2022#24

That's a big bummer but I get it. Thought it was an additional location when I first heard about it :(

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PostNov 11, 2022#25

Where's the announcement? Or has this not yet been publicly shared?

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