Help 'Flanders Bros Cycle' after looters

It all starts back in the early 70s. Jim and Scott Flanders, along with their grandfather, James Karusis, were cutting their teeth in the bicycle business while working at Wheel Goods Corporation of Minneapolis.. At the time, Wheel Goods was one of the largest retail and wholesale bicycle operations in the US. It was also quite probably the largest Gitane bicycle dealer in the US. Fortunately for the Flanders brothers (as it turned out), in 1973 the Gitane/ Wheel Goods relationship came to an end. Seeing a ripe opportunity, the Brothers and their grandfather decided to open their own bicycle store. So they opened a small bicycle shop just a few blocks east of Wheel Goods and became Minneapolis’ newest Gitane-only dealership.

Now, after 47 years that is about to come to an end.  On Fri/Sat of May 29th and 30th people took it upon themselves to put the Flanders into early retirement.  The shop has been looted almost 100% of everything is gone, not to mention the damage that goes along with that.  It was not burned and could be re-opened after time, however their age, and now this, they have decided to close the doors probably for good.  A business that was in the community creating life long memories for people and families for 47 years just cannot continue.  

Insurance will hopefully play a huge role in covering the overhead of goods, the damage that has been done and anything else related to the looting, however, insurance will not support them with while all that gets figured out.  They are not asking for help that could be going to others more in need, but if you see it in you to help with anything it will go towards making sure they do not need to dip into personal funds, retirement, and loans to stay afloat while they deal with this horrible incident. 

ALL funds will go directly to the Flanders Brothers to be used ONLY to help with this situation.  That would be anything insurance does not cover.  Anything raised over and beyond what is needed will be donated to other local businesses affected or community organizations helping.

Update: There are a lot of uncertainties right now with out of pocket expenses and insurance so we have decided to increase the donation goal.  The best part about the way this fundraiser is set-up is that if the Flanders receive more than what is absolutely needed, it will be re-donated to other local businesses or community organizations helping out.