‘Very sad day’: Flames destroy historic building, beloved bike shop
Fox 8 Cleveland WJW
by: Darren Sweeney
Posted: Feb 28, 2025 / 07:07 AM EST
Updated: Feb 28, 2025 / 07:21 AM EST
PENINSULA, Ohio (WJW) — A popular local bike shop burned to the ground early Friday.
Firefighters from several departments were called to Eddy’s Bike Shop on Main St. in Peninsula just before 1 a.m.
When firefighters arrived, they found the building fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters were still putting out the flames more than two hours later. The building was destroyed.
The Peninsula Foundation owns the building. Karen Walters is the executive director of the organization.
“I live right across the street and I heard popping noises and I was just about to — Jesus [her reaction to a popping noise in the background] — call the police and they came and I saw them blocking off traffic and then I could see the smoke and the flames from my window,” she said.
She said Eddy’s Bike Shop rented the business. They were closed for the winter but preparing to reopen in the next few weeks.
“They just moved in last year,” she said. “They’ve been closed for about three months. They’ve been painting and doing some minor remodeling in the off season and getting ready to reopen for the spring.”
“It’s iconic,” Walters said of the building. She said it’s right on the Cuyahoga River and its foundation was tied into the bridge.
“The property was built in 1893 as a small bar here on the river. It survived the flood of 1913 which took out a lot of the properties here,” she said.
Walters said she has lived in Peninsula her entire life. In fact, she said her family has called the area home for six generations.
“It’s a pretty horrific fire,” Walters said as the building burned behind her. “Very sad day. It’s a sad, sad day.”
“That building has been here a long time,” she said. “One of the interesting histories about it is Peninsula had a professional baseball player named Scotty Ingerton. It was his bar for a while. So at one time it was called ‘Scotty’s Place’.”
“I think most people will know it was Century Cycles or Eddy’s Cycles which is a big part of the tourism here in town,” Walters explained.
“If you’ve been to Peninsula, you just know that there is tons of cycling going on here in the summer months.”
There was no information released about a possible cause early Friday morning. The fire will remain under investigation.
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Historical property goes up in flames in Summit County
SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – Multiple firefighters battled a fire at an historical building in Peninsula early Friday.
Crews responded to Eddy’s Bike Shop in the 1600 block of Main St. around 1 a.m.
Firefighters said the alarm company notified them of the fire.
Eddy’s Bike Shop was closed for the season.
According to county fiscal records, the building was built in 1893.
There were no injuries.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.
