11/29/2025
Today at 4pm, we close our doors for the very last time, and as we prepare for that moment, our hearts are full of gratitude, pride, and emotion.
For 79 years, Petri Bikes has been more than a place to buy a bicycle — it has been a home, a tradition, and a gathering place for generations of Downriver families. Since 1946, when our grandparents first opened our doors, our shop grew into something truly special not because of the bikes we sold, but because of the community that embraced us.
You invited us into your lives in meaningful ways — from first bikes and milestone moments to race days, charity rides, and simple Saturday tune-ups. You shared your stories, your traditions, and your families with us. Over the decades, this community didn’t just support us… you encouraged us, celebrated with us, stood by us through every change, supported us during our difficult times and treated us like family.
We are endlessly grateful for the friendships built at the counter, the conversations in the aisles, the riders we watched grow up, and the loyalty that carried us through generations. The smiles, the shared laughs, the trust, and even the quick “hello” from the parking lot — those are the moments we’ll hold closest. And we are equally grateful for the hundreds of employees who have been part of our story over the years — from lifelong staff members to the teenagers who proudly called Petri Bikes their very first job. Being a starting place, a workplace, and a family to so many people is one of the things we are most proud of.
As this chapter comes to an end, Al and Debbie step into a well-earned retirement, while Elizabeth, Melanie, and Jeff begin new adventures of their own. Although each of us is moving forward on a different path, we leave with full hearts and a deep appreciation for the community that shaped our family’s story for nearly eight decades.
Today, we turn the key one last time — with profound gratitude for the thousands of moments that made these 79 years unforgettable.
Thank you, Downriver, for the love, loyalty, and memories. Thank you for treating us like your own. And thank you for being such an important part of our story and our family’s legacy.
— The Petri Family
