Courtesy of The Bike Rack and Filter Coffeehouse.

Bikes and brews are coming together under one roof at The Bike Rack & Filter Coffeehouse, which is officially set to open next month.

The two businesses will share space in the Brookland Works building at 716 Monroe Street NE. They will hold a grand opening on April 18, the same day as the first Brookland Farmers Market of the season.

The combined bicycle-coffee shop concept was announced nearly a year ago, so what took so long to actually get it open?

“The usual permitting issues and hurdles that everyone has to deal with,” says Filter owner Rasheed Jabr, adding it didn’t have anything to do with the space’s mixed use. “Dealing with DCRA is a problem for everyone. If anyone has to do anything down there, you should add two or three months extra.”

Aside from the regulatory issues, Jabr said he was on board with the concept from the minute that Chuck Harney, owner of The Bike Rack, approached him with the idea. And he says the neighbors have been, too. “We’ve gotten some great feedback both from people who have been living in the area for a long time and people who’ve moved in recently. I think its going to be a really fun part of the neighborhood.”

The airy space will have both indoor seating and an outdoor patio next to the Monroe Street Market Arts Walk.

So, what does he make of that other much-talked about combination coffee shop, the Crumbs & Whiskers cat cafe?

“If there’s a market for it, I hope they do well,” he said. “Georgetown is a cool market for it … it might even become a Georgetown attraction.”

But Jabr’s content with remaining more of a neighborhood spot. He says to keep an eye out for bike and coffee-related events, as well as the possibility of group rides—especially since they are located just around the corner from the Metropolitan Branch Trail.