Anthony Tatangelo stands inside U.P. Sport & Spoke, now at 527 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain, just a block from its previous location. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — U.P. Sport & Spoke didn’t need to look far to find a larger building for their expanding business.

After opening at 627 S. Stephenson Ave. in the summer of 2019, owner Anthony Tatangelo located a new space only a block away at 527 S. Stephenson in downtown Iron Mountain and shifted U.P. Sport & Spoke there in early May.

“We outgrew the previous location and we purchased the building,” Tatangelo said, adding the new site is 1 1/2-times the size of the previous location.

The sports shop stocks bikes, skis, paddle boards, sunglasses and fitness equipment.

Service technician Andy Cabrera also is on hand to repair quality sports equipment.

“We expanded our staff to five people and expanded product lines to include tennis, pickleball and racquetball equipment, blow-up and stand-up paddleboards. We also plan to begin selling running gear,” Tatangelo said.

The Kuhl line of outdoor apparel will come in the winter, he said.

The shop also rents out stand-up paddleboards in the summer and snowshoes and cross country skis in winter.

“We were planning to do bike rental, but with the bike market right now we ended up selling all our bikes,” Tatangelo said.

Wanting to make upgrading easier for everyone, U.P. Sport & Spoke started a Half-Back Bicycle Trade-In Program — trade in a bike within two years of purchase and the store will give 50% of the original purchase price off the cost of a new bike. Trading in a 3-year-old bike earns 30% of the original purchase price.

Tatangelo said the business will continue its outreach programs, bike classes and free family-friendly events. Taco Tuesday group rides are resuming and they plan to begin kids rides.

While the COVID-19 shutdown did affect business, it didn’t slow down progress at the new location, he said.

“COVID killed us sales-wise, but it was a blessing in disguise, because we used that time to remodel the building and get it ready,” Tatangelo said.

Theresa Proudfit can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 245, or tproudfit@ironmountaindailynews.com.