Sunshine Cycles is moving from downtown Athens to Baxter Street later this month.

Owner Jimmy Marbut had initially planned to close his downtown Athens location for a few weeks starting Apr. 15 while landlord Corky Sams renovated the West Washington Street space, but the anticipated construction time kept growing and growing to about five months.

After a slow winter due to wet and cold weather, Marbut said he can't afford to keep the store closed for that long during the busy spring and summer seasons, so he is taking over the former Eckerd Drugs space at 1063 Baxter Street.

"I hate to move out of downtown," Marbut said. "The downtown community is really going to miss having a cycling store. I just can't afford to live there anymore."

Marbut said he has to be out of the West Washington Street space by Apr. 20. There's likely to be a transition period as he moves next week, he said.

The women's clothing retailer Philanthropy is still taking over part of the downtown space, Marbut said.

Sunshine Cycles' Watkinsville location will not be affected by the move.