The Red Bicycle, an island restaurant, bar and arts venue in the heart of downtown, will remain open even though the establishment notified customers over the weekend that it would close soon.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, a post on the Red Bike’s Facebook page said that the restaurant would be “closing our doors shortly” and that there would be a “customer appreciation sale” the same day. The following day, however, that course was changed, and a later post said the business would be able to “keep the doors open” and staff employed “due to the overwhelming support from the Vashon community.”

But in an interview with The Beachcomber, Garam Choi, manager of the Red Bike, was mum on what was going on, saying she wanted to be careful talking about the fluid situation regarding her business.

“Basically what was happening was there wasn’t enough customers to be coming in for me to keep the doors open,” Choi said.

Though the restaurant did not close last week and will remain open, “for the meantime, I do plan to try my best and really turn Red Bike around,” Choi said.

Choi said the Red Bike would see some immediate changes in operations, including both the bar and restaurant closing on Wednesdays. The other days, the bar will be open from 4 p.m. to close, with the restaurant remaining the same, opening at 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekend hours for the bar are to be determined, she said.

But it’s not as if the Red Bike hasn’t seen some changes in recent times. New paint and flooring were completed in the bar area and new menu items, like Ramen, were added. A popular sushi artist is back at the helm, crafting old favorites as well as new recipes. Another chef, meanwhile, is perfecting chili based on customer feedback and is working on the overall consistency of the kitchen menu.

Reforming the restaurant and bar was a point the businesswoman emphasized several times with The Beachcomber.

“I’d really love to see this place transform from the inside out, but I just need the support from the community,” she said. “That way, I can earn enough to make some changes.”

Online, islanders erupted in reaction — some positive, some negative — over the fact that the Red Bike might close.

One islander, Jenn Taylor, wrote on Facebook, “That ship has been sinking for years.”

Another islander, William Rowe asked the community to support the owners who “want to make a go” of the Red Bike.

“Give it a little support,” Rowe wrote. “She likes what she does and does a great job. … if we don’t support the Bike our choices will diminish.”

Over the weekend, an impromptu open mike was pulled together by patrons wishing to celebrate the last days of Red Bike. Patrons gathered to dance and share memories.

“The Bike is the heart of Vashon. It’s been in such a state of disrepair,” said Kippy Jo Berry, a patron and former employee of the Red Bike. “Someone needs to step up and make it the gem that it is.”

Choi told The Beachcomber she was “very moved” by the support from the community.

“These last few days have been very hard on me. It’s not easy having to face your staff and think about closure,” she said.