Chain Reaction Cycles closes flagship store
The closure follows months of financial turmoil for Wiggle CRC since they entered administration last October
Pete Trifunovic
Digital Content Creator
© Chain Reaction Cycles
Chain Reaction Cycles' parent company Wiggle CRC entered administration last year
Chain Reaction Cycles' flagship store in Belfast will close next month as Wiggle CRC’s financial woes continue.
After opening its doors in March 2012, the shop acted as the online retailer’s main in-person store in the UK and Ireland. However, it will now pull down its shutters for a final time in February following on from the company entering administration at the end of 2023.
Read more: Over 100 job losses at Wiggle CRC after administrators take control
The announcement, which is likely to spell more job losses, was announced on the Belfast branch’s Facebook page on Wednesday morning.
In a statement, senior store manager Dave Astin wrote: “We regret to inform you that our retail store located on Boucher Road, Belfast, will be closing its doors next month.
“We sincerely appreciate the support from all our customers over the past 12 years. We will continue to serve all our customers through our online store, chainreactioncycles.com, where you can shop our full range and receive support, warranty, and aftercare services from our customer service team.”
With the company keen to salvage any extra cash while they can, Astin added: “With the store closing soon, we are offering some incredible deals as we sell through our remaining stock. Please feel free to visit us in the coming weeks.”
Chain Reaction Cycles was founded in 1984 out of a small bike shop, Ballynure Cycles, named after the small Northern Ireland village where it was based.
After merging with Wiggle in 2016, the cycling retailer has struggled in recent years, with both the pandemic and Brexit squeezing its finances. The biggest blow came last October when Wiggle Chain Reaction Cycles entered administration.
In a recent report, it was revealed that Wiggle CRC owed its creditors over £26 million when it filed for administration.
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