Gnargo opens Bentonville store to expand electric cargo bike work

Cargo e-bike maker Gnargo Bike Co. recently opened a store at 3905 N.W. Wishing Springs Drive in Bentonville. Zach and Elysia Springer are the co-founders and co-owners.

Zach Springer said the new store will allow the company to scale to meet demand. It was previously located in two two-car garages.

“It was a part-time hobby/business,” he said. “We not only opened this building, but I also changed from having a corporate job to showing up full-time here and really spending a lot of my passion and focus here at Gnargo. Having the business open up here was really symbolic for letting our customers know that we’re here to support their business.”

Gnargo repurposes discarded bicycles into electric cargo bikes. He noted that the company buys “higher-end classic mountain bike and road frames” from Pedal It Forward to make its bikes. Asked why cargo bikes, he said cargo bikes are better suited for commuting than recreational bikes. Also, cargo bikes allow users to haul things, such as groceries from area farmers markets.

“We’ve thought of our bikes as being able to replace a car,” he added.

The company sells three models, ranging from $2,800 to $3,500, and can be made custom to meet customers’ needs. In its first year, the company sold 48 bikes. In its second year, sales are expected to more than double and exceed 100 bikes this year. He noted that the new Bentonville e-bike rebate is helping sales.

“We’re going to be starting a fundraising round on Wefunder within the next month so that we can scale with the demand,” he said.

The Springers are past participants of area incubators, including the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program and the Builders + Backers Stepping Stones program.

The Bentonville store is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The company has six staff.