Flow State Bike Co. Bringing People Together.

Opening Flow State Bike Co. located in Arkell, Ontario required a lot of upfront capital to get both the coffee bar and bike shop up and running. Receiving financial support from the Community Futures Program through the Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures office allowed owner Nate Lessnick to invest in all the required equipment, tools, and infrastructure, as well as to build up the inventory of bikes and gear to meet the growing demand in our region.

Some of the best bike shops Lessnick has visited all had something in common — they brought people together and created a sense of community. That’s where the idea of bringing the bike cafe concept close to home came from — a place where people can gather, be themselves, and indulge in a common passion.

Flow State is a multi-revenue business that offers food and beverage, retail, and bike repair services. As such, owners ran into several logistical and physical challenges within the space, but it also presented them with the opportunity to offer something unique in the area — they are the only licensed coffee bar, boutique bike shop, and community hub in the Waterloo-Wellington region.

Community Futures Funding Partner:

Rural businesses, organizations, and communities are the cornerstone of Canada’s economy. To ensure rural Canadians are positioned for success, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), has partnered with the Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across southern Ontario to provide access to the tools and support these businesses within their communities need to succeed.