50 BEST RUNNING STORES IN AMERICA

NOT a Running Store, but the Water Tower Place sports store that was crowded with Chicago Cubs fans the day after the team won the World Series. PKSenagore 2016, all rights reserved

THE FINAL FOUR  According to a Competitor.com article by Brian Metzler and Mark Sullivan, the Best Running Store of 2016 was to be named on December 1 at The Running Event industry conference and trade show in Orlando FL. Last year’s winner was the Red Coyote Running and Fitness in Oklahoma City OK.  The 2014 winner was the Columbus Running Company store in Dublin OH, in the Columbus area. From the top 50 this year, which you can view in the article by state, the four finalists are:
 
Charm City Run in Belair MD
Fleet Feet in Brentwood TN
Hanson’s Running Shop in Grosse Pointe MI
Tortoise and Hare in Glendale AZ
 
The selection is “based on criteria that includes the retail environment, shoe-fitting, checkout process, community service and credit ratings from vendors.” Competitor magazine and Running Insight, a trade publication, combine to identify contenders through reader nominations. This is followed by a “rigorous” evaluation process, and then an announcement of the winner at the Orlando FL event and publication online through Competitor.com.

Check it out and see if your favorite is honored. I hope to keep a lookout for the Competitor.com nomination period in 2017 so I can put up Michigan-based Gazelle Sports.  At its 5 locations this company is a standout in community service, a wonderful resource for training, and a retailer of quality running gear. In 2016, nominations were accepted April 27 through July 2, 2016.
 
RUN HAPPY!
 
http://running.competitor.com/2016/11/news/the-50-best-running-stores-in-america-for-2016_159449