If you could design a bike shop model that can survive, what would it be? Size, staffing, focus? Would or could it end up being an interesting shop?
Bike shop closures around here have been the norm for almost 20 years now. And at the pressure of increasing rents, its going to continue.
If I was interested in opening one, it would be on-line only as others have mentioned. The best way to control rent is to not have any.
When people can buy almost anything they want from Amazon, and have it in one day or maybe two days max, the world has changed forever. The co ops survive here due to low rent, (or donated free space). free (donated) materials, and volunteers. None of this is really feasible in a brick and mortar store.
I always get a kick out of the guy that visits our co op, wearing his scrubs from the local hospital where he works. He complains endlessly about the high prices shops charge. This from a guy where he works, they charge you $200 for a band-aid..... A lot of people don't appreciate what it costs to run a business, and are unwilling to pay a fair price for service.