Retail news : US, Naperville Running Takes Best Running Store

Naperville Running Company

Naperville Running Company in Illinois took home first place in 2013's 50 Best Running Stores in America contest, sponsored by Competitor magazine. Naperville Running also won in 2009. The three runner-ups were Red Coyote Running and Fitness in Oklahoma City, OK; Rush Running Company in Bentonville, AK; and Sole Sports Running Zone in Tempe, AZ.

The rankings process, compiled by Competitor magazine and Running Insight trade magazine, started in July with runners nominating their favorite stores through www.competitor.com. Those stores were then put through a rigorous evaluation process, which included mystery shopping to assess customer service, credit ratings from vendors and assessments about local programs and community commitment.

The winner was revealed Dec. 5 at The Running Event, an industry-only trade show, in Austin, TX.

Other awards handed out on the night:

• Marathon Sports (Boston) won the Ubuntu Award, which is presented by Balega. The award is presented to the store that epitomizes the spirit of community service; 
• Charm City Run (Timonium, MD) won the The Never Stop Exploring Award, which is sponsored by The North Face and goes to the store that best initiates local community programs that break down the barriers to getting people outdoors;
• Potomac River Running in the Washington DC Metro area won the Just Do Award, presented by Nike and honoring a women's running store owner;
• Boutique Endurance (Montreal) won Canadian Store of the year, an award presented by the Independent Running Retailers of Canada and sponsored by New Balance Canada.

The full list of 2013's 50 Best Running Stores in America by state follows:

ALABAMA
• Fleet Feet Sports Huntsville, Huntsville

ARKANSAS
• Rush Running Company, Bentonville

ARIZONA
• Fleet Feet Sports Tucson, Tucson

• Sole Sports Running Zone, Tempe

• Tortoise & Hare Sports, Glendale

CALIFORNIA
• A Snail’s Pace Running Shop, Brea

• Fleet Feet Sports Aptos, Aptos

• Fleet Feet Sports Davis, Davis

• Sole 2 Soul Sports, Visalia

FLORIDA
• 1st Place Sports, Jacksonville

• FitNiche, Lakeland

• Fit2Run, University Park

• Jacksonville Running Company, (Tapestry Park location), Jacksonville

• Runner’s Depot, Davie

GEORGIA
•Big Peach Running Company, Atlanta

• Natural Strides, Woodstock

IDAHO
• Shu’s Idaho Running Company, Boise

ILLINOIS
• Dick Pond Athletics, Schaumburg

• Fleet Feet Sports Chicago (Old Town location), Chicago

• Geneva Running Outfitters, Geneva

• Go Outside and Play Running Company, Galesburg

• Naperville Running Company, Naperville

• Running for Kicks, Palos Heights

INDIANA
• Fleet Feet Sports Schererville

• Three Rivers Running Company, Fort Wayne

• Tri-N-Run, Lafayette

LOUISIANA
• Live 4 Sports, Houma

MAINE
• Maine Running Company, Portland

MARYLAND
• Charm City Run, Timonium

• Fleet Feet Sports Baltimore, Pikesville

MASSACHUSETTS
• Whirlaway Sports Center, Methuen

MICHIGAN
• Gazelle Sports, Kalamazoo

• Playmakers, Okemos

MISSOURI
• Big River Running Company, St. Louis

• Garry Gribble’s Running Sports, Kansas City

• The Run Around Running Company, Joplin

• The Running Well Store, Kansas City

• Ultramax, Columbia

NEBRASKA
• Peak Performance, Omaha

NEW HAMPSHIRE
• Runner’s Alley, Portsmouth

NEW YORK
• Fleet Feet Sports Syracuse, East Syracuse

• Sayville Running Company, Sayville

OHIO
• Bob Roncker’s Running Spot, Cincinnati

•Columbus Running Company, Dublin

OKLAHOMA
•Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa, Tulsa

• Red Coyote Running and Fitness, Oklahoma City

PENNSYLVANIA
•A Running Start, Reading

• Scranton Running Company, Scranton

TEXAS
• Luke’s Locker, Dallas

• Run On!, Dallas

UTAH
• Salt Lake Running Company, Salt Lake City

VIRGINIA
• Fleet Feet Sports Roanoke, Roanoke

• Pacers, Arlington

• Potomac River Running, Burke

WEST VIRGINIA
• Robert’s Running & Walking Shop, Huntington


By press release