PENINSULA, Ohio — A devastating fire has ripped through Eddy’s Bike Shop, a beloved business and historic landmark in Peninsula, in the early hours of Friday morning. The blaze has caused significant damage, destroying the bike shop and the building it occupied, a structure with roots stretching back to 1893.
Peninsula Police responded to an alarm at Eddy’s Bike Shop around 1 a.m. and quickly alerted the fire department upon observing smoke emanating from the premises. The situation rapidly escalated as flames erupted, engulfing the property and sending plumes of smoke and fire into the night sky.
Karen Walters, the executive director of the Peninsula Foundation, which owns the historic building, witnessed the unfolding tragedy from her nearby home. “I heard a popping noise, and I was just about to call the police when they arrived. I saw them blocking off traffic, and then the smoke and flames became visible from my window,” Walters recounted.
Fire crews from multiple departments worked tirelessly for hours to bring the fire under control. A significant section of Main Street was temporarily closed to allow emergency responders to secure the area. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities as a result of the fire.
The loss of Eddy’s Bike Shop is deeply felt in Peninsula. The building itself is steeped in history, serving thousands of cyclists annually and known to many as Millie’s Inn. Built in 1893, it stood as a resilient landmark, even surviving the great flood of 1913.
“It’s iconic,” Walters emphasized. “It’s one of those buildings that is immediately noticeable when you travel West into Peninsula.” Beyond Millie’s Inn, the location also holds memories as Scotty’s bar, once owned by Scotty Ingerton, Peninsula’s celebrated professional baseball player. Peninsula Mayor Dan Schneider also recalled its diverse past, “In my youth, this place was a tie shop. And my father reminded me it was a bar before that.”
Before becoming Eddy’s Bike Shop, the location was home to Century Cycles for many years. Eddy’s Bike Shop had become a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts drawn to the scenic towpath trail and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Heather Downing, a Peninsula resident, shared a personal connection to the location’s cycling history. “I used to come here as a kid. I got my first bike from here. I was just reminiscing with a friend about how we were kind of groupies of Century Cycles,” Downing said.
Eddy’s Bike Shop had recently announced on Facebook that they were undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2025 cycling season, with a planned reopening in mid-March.
“It’s really sad. I hope that they rebuild because all the community members really loved the bikes and the attraction of the towpath trail,” Downing expressed.
The building’s historical significance and its role as a tourist attraction are crucial to Peninsula. “It’s devastating to our village. Look at its location, right next to the railroad tracks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Line. Especially in the summertime, this place is bustling with people,” Mayor Schneider stated, underscoring the shop’s importance to the local economy and community life.
Despite the devastation, there is hope for the future of Eddy’s Bike Shop in Peninsula. Mayor Schneider indicated optimism, “They’re already looking for ways to remain part of our community, which is a bonus for us and hopefully for them.” He added that while modern zoning codes might present challenges for rebuilding in the exact location, “We definitely hope we can collaborate with the Foundation and others involved to revitalize that space. It won’t be identical, but we want to avoid leaving a void in our town.”
Fire officials are currently investigating the cause of the fire. The Valley Fire District anticipates that the incident will not disrupt railroad operations or access to the popular towpath trail as Peninsula prepares for the upcoming spring and summer tourist season. The community now awaits further news on the future of Eddy’s Bike Shop and the historic site it occupied.
