PENINSULA, Ohio — A bike shop and historic building in Peninsula have been destroyed after flames ripped through Eddy's Bike Shop overnight.
Around 1 a.m. Friday, Peninsula Police responded to Eddy's for an alarm and alerted the fire department about smoke coming from inside.
Flames and smoke could be seen shooting into the sky as fire fully engulfed the property.
“I heard a popping noise, and I was just about to call the police when they came. I saw them blocking off traffic. And then I could see the smoke and the flames from my window,” said Karen Walters, who lives nearby and is the executive director for the Peninsula Foundation, which owns the building.
Crews from several departments spent hours working to get it under control. A large portion of Main Street was closed as crews worked to secure the scene. No one was hurt or killed.
This is a historic property used by thousands of cyclists each season. It was built in 1893 and known to many as Millie's Inn, according to the Peninsula Foundation. It survived the great flood of 1913.
“It’s iconic. It’s one of the buildings, when you’re traveling West, you can’t help but see it right there,” Walters said.
It was also once known as Scotty's bar — owned by Scotty Ingerton. He was Peninsula's only professional baseball player.
“In my day, this place was an old-school tie shop as a youngster. And my dad reminded me that before that it was a bar,” said Peninsula Mayor Dan Schneider.
Before it was Eddy's, it was Century Cycles for several years. The bike shop was a hot spot for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts.
“I used to come here as a kid. I got my first bike from here. I was just talking to my friend about it. We were kind of groupies of Century Cycles,” said Peninsula resident Heather Downing.
According to a Facebook post from Eddy's, Eddy's Bike Shop was undergoing some renovations ahead of the 2025 cycling season. It was set to re-open in mid-March.
“It’s really sad. I hope that they build another one because all the community members really loved the bikes and the attraction of the towpath trail,” Downing said.
The building has deep roots in Peninsula's past and has been a vital tourist attraction in recent years.
“It’s devastating to our village. Look where it sits. It’s right next to the railroad tracks with the Cuyahoga Valley National Line. This place, especially in the summertime, is just abundant with people,” Mayor Schneider said.
He hopes Eddy's can rebuild or find a new home in Peninsula.
“They’re looking to find a way already, I believe, to stay as part of our community. So that’s a bonus for us and hopefully a bonus for them,” he said.
The mayor said modern zoning codes could restrict what could be built in the former bike shop space.
“We definitely hope we can work with the Foundation and others involved to put something back in that location," he said. "Of course, it won’t be the same, but at least it won’t be a hole in the ground.”
Fire officials are working to determine what sparked the fire. The Valley Fire District expects the fire will not disrupt the railroad tracks or towpath trail as Peninsula prepares for its busy spring and summer season.
