PORT ANGELES — A local business and many of its customers have pitched in to help get a long-time customer back on the road after his bike was stolen this summer.
When Port Angeles resident Chris Guillory went into Drake’s U Bake Pizza and Subs, 819 S. Lincoln St., for a sandwich last week, he walked out with a bonus: a brand-new Specialized Hard Rock mountain bike.
Employees of Drakes had learned that Guillory’s bike was stolen so they held a secret fundraiser to purchase a nearly identical $500 bike and presented it to him Sept. 16.
“It was a surprise. He didn’t know about what we were doing,” said Amber Hopkins, manager of Drake’s.
Guillory, who had relied on the stolen bike as his main means of transportation, said he was grateful for the surprise and for the community support.
“I feel the support from Drake’s and the community was absolutely amazing and wonderful. I almost cannot believe it,” he said.
For years, Guillory, 27, a long-time customer and family friend of owner Wendy Drake, has come into the sandwich shop for meals and became well known among employees and other customers.
“He’s a very sweet young man,” said Hopkins.
Guillory said he was born with a disability that prevents him from working but likes to spend his time staying active, mostly through swimming and bicycling.
He declined to discuss his disability further.
The 5-year-old blue and white Specialized Hard Rock mountain bike that was stolen kept him active.
On July 28, the bike was stolen.
“I had kept it locked with my bike lock under the stairwell right by my apartment,” Guillory said.
“I assume it was cut during the night sometime. I never did find out who stole it.”
A few days later, the operators of Drake’s learned of the theft.
“He came in and asked to put up posters of his missing bike,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins said she and other employees became more and more frustrated as they watched Guillory spend more than a month putting up posters and searching town for the bike.
“He has worked tirelessly to recover the bike and has taken every avenue available to try and locate his bicycle,” Hopkins said.
Friends who heard about the theft reported seeing someone in town riding an identical bicycle several times, but no one was able to catch up to the person to determine if it was indeed the same bicycle.
In early September, it became clear that Guillory would not get his bike back, so Hopkins and Drake’s employees decided to step in and do something about it, Hopkins said.
Hopkins created an account at the crowdfunding website www.gofundme.com and spread the word to customers, employees and friends about their efforts to help Guillory.
“We raised $500 in about five days,” she said.
She said they approached Sound Bikes & Kayaks, 120 E. Front St., to see if they could help.
The bike shop still carried the same model of bicycle that was stolen and offered the red version, sold to them at a discount for $500, she said.
“We have such a caring community. I can’t thank everyone enough and tell you how appreciative I am,” Guillory said.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.