Big wheels start turning in Aurora for Ernie Clark’s charity bike shop

AURORA | Two months after getting the boot from its old home, the Second Chance Bike Shop is still searching for a new headquarters.

“We don’t have a building but we are still kicking,” said Ernie Clark, who runs the charity bike shop that gives bikes to needy children.

Clark said he has been working with city officials in recent weeks to figure out a new home for the shop after having to move from its former temporary home in the basement of Kim Robards Dance Studio at East Colfax Avenue and Florence Street.

For now, Clark said most of his bikes and tools are still in that basement, but one of his volunteers has allowed Clark and the rest of his crew to work on bikes in the volunteer’s backyard. That’s meant that even without a permanent home, Clark can still churn out bikes for children who need them.

Last week, Clark gave out 27 bikes to students at Boston Elementary School.

“We just keep on going the best we can,” he said.

Clark said he is working to get the nonprofit official 501(c)3 status, so that if someone has a garage or some other property they can donate it and get a tax write-off.

But Clark said he’s never dealt with the sorts of paperwork required in getting that status, so he’s looking for a lawyer or someone who can help out.

From there, Clark said he’s hopeful he can find a new home for the shop relatively quickly.

Clark’s labor of love began 10 years ago when he started helping a former firefighter who repaired bikes in a single-car garage for kids in need. That man stepped aside after a while and Clark took over, eventually moving to a garage behind the former Aurora Warms the Night headquarters at 1555 Dayton St. before moving to the basement in 2013. Along the way, local homeless men started volunteering their time in exchange for a working bike and a constructive place to pass the time.

The basement was never meant to be permanent, and Robards asked Clark to move out last spring. The dance studio needs the space to prep for their coming move to the other side of Colfax, and once they move, the shop would have to pack up anyway.

Clark said he is working to get the nonprofit official 501(c)3 status, so that if someone has a garage or some other property they can donate it and get a tax write-off.

Tim Gonerka, a retail specialist for the city of Aurora,  said he has been searching for a spot for Clark but hasn’t had much luck. He said the city found a spot at Community College of Aurora where Clark can store some of the bikes, and they’re looking into a storage unit as well as a temporary solution.

“Unfortunately we haven’t found a place yet, we’re still looking for someone to step up and help Ernie out,” he said.

Gonerka has worked in recent years to attract businesses to Aurora Cultural Arts District, so working to help a charity find a home is a little different from his normal work. But, Gonerka said, considering the how important Clark’s work has become for the neighborhood, it makes sense.

“Not everything is about profit,” he said. “A lot of times it’s about quality of life as well.”

For more information or to help, call Clark at 720-270-5731.