Bicyclists and fitness enthusiasts have one less place to shop for equipment and gear.

On Friday, Koehlinger Cycling and Fitness, 5412 Illinois Road, closed after a three-day, 50-percent-off sale.

Dean Koehlinger, 64, was the third generation to own the business. He began working there part-time when he was 13, and went full-time working for his father, Win, after he graduated from college in 1966.

The family's business roots began in 1913 when Dean Koehlinger's grandfather, Arthur, opened a locksmith and bicycle shop. Win Koehlinger bought the bicycle portion of the business in 1928. The other side of the business still exists as Koehlinger Security Systems Inc. on Washington Boulevard, run by Dean Koehlinger's cousin, Kim Koehlinger.

On the bicycle side, business grew steadily for years. In the early '70s the emphasis changed to bicycling and fitness. In 1974 the store moved to the Georgetown area. In 1979 the Koehlingers built a store on South Anthony Boulevard, and in 1985 they built one on Coldwater Road. In 1992 the Anthony store moved to Illinois Road. The Coldwater store moved to Dupont Road in 2003 and became a fitness store only. They opened another fitness store in Indianapolis.

But Dean Koehlinger blames a decision to go into the commercial fitness business for the company's eventual demise. Koehlinger began selling commercial fitness equipment to hospitals, universities and fitness centers, but the business lost a lot of money when the manufacturers decided to sell directly, Koehlinger said.

“We got away from our core business: retail bicycles and fitness equipment.”

The company closed two warehouses and both fitness stores in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. In 2007 the Illinois Road store saw a record year, Koehlinger said.

Then came the economic downturn. Coupled with “too much debt from our previous expansion,” the decision was made to close.

Koehlinger is disappointed his company is closing after 96 years in business, but is quick to point out his grandfather's business is still on target to reach the 100-year mark, assuming the other branch of the original business, Koehlinger Security Systems, stays in business another four years. Koehlinger plans to stay in Fort Wayne. “I'm not blaming anyone, and I ask for no sympathy,” he said, adding he'd like to thank all the customers who supported his business over the years.