Yes, Joe’s Bike Shop is closing in Fells. Atlas says it’s not taking over.

On Thursday, Joe Traill was busy going back and forth between his two bike shops: the one on Falls Road in Mount Washington and another, in Fells Point, that will shut down sometime next week.

News of the closure of Joe's Bike Shop spread far and wide on social media , where rumors spread that Atlas Restaurant Group was kicking out the popular South Broadway bike shop as part of their empire's rapid expansion in Baltimore and beyond.

But the rumors aren't true, according to Atlas founder Alex Smith. While he, his brother Eric and another business partner bought the building as a real estate investment in 2021, the property is separate from Atlas, and the company has no plans to open a new restaurant in it.

Smith said in a statement that Joe's is now more than six months behind on rent payments "despite multiple efforts by the landlord to support the tenant's success."

Reached by phone, Traill said, "I don't want any argument with the Smith family. The Atlas group has been more than fair with us."

The shop is the only one in the immediate area and a go-to for many Baltimore cyclists whose bikes are in need of repair.

The 723 S. Broadway property also includes neighboring businesses Twist, a restaurant, and E.C. Pops, a gift shop. Smith said those two businesses will remain open. All three are directly across from the Atlas-owned Choptank, which is in the south shed of the Broadway Market.