Following the acquisition of the three Boulder Running Company (BRC)
stores in June 2013, the Denver-based Running Specialty Group (RSG)
announced the opening of the newest BRC in the heart of Cherry Creek in
mid-February. The new BRC flagship store will be the single largest
specialty running store in the country with 17,471 square feet.
The new store moves into the building west of Cherry Creek Mall in the
space previously occupied by Cost Plus World Market and directly across
the street from the Cherry Creek Trail, one of Denver’s busiest urban
multi-use trails.
Continuing the BRC tradition of being more
than just a retail store, this newest addition has plans for an
Expo-like concept with different zones set up to cater to a variety of
runner’s needs.
Topping the list is a Saucony StrideLab offering
runners a level of biomechanical analysis never before available in a
retail setting using multiple high-speed video cameras and a
state-of-the-art force measuring treadmill to help runners understand
their personal running form and to make more informed footwear
selections. In Motion Rehabilitation, the physical therapy center
operated by physical therapist Mark Plaatjes in the Boulder BRC, is also
expanding to the new store with its own dedicated space for seeing
patients beginning opening day.
A Hydration Bar will feature sports
drinks “on tap” and samples of the latest nutrition products. Footwear
innovations will be showcased on “the wall” where every model of Hoka, a
leader in the footwear technology evolution with their “big shoe”
design, will be available to help serious runners enhance their
performance. The Asics Community Room offers 1,000 sq. ft. of “open”
indoor space that will be dedicated to classes, training groups, free
yoga classes and special event needs ranging from team meetings to
pre-event packet pickup.
“Boulder Running Company has this
practically mythic status among Colorado runners for being ‘the place’
not only for running shoes and gear but for its support of all things
running in the local community,” explains Ken Gart, managing partner of
Running Specialty Group. “We want to honor and extend that culture to
Denver runners and with this really huge space, we have the opportunity
to add some bold and innovative elements to the traditional running
store experience that will help us deliver even more support and
resources to Denver-area runners,” he added.
A Kiddie Corner is
also slated to be part of the mix with an outdoor playground onsite and
in-store activities for the kids of parents who are shopping, training
or attending a class.
This opening also marks the beginning of
Boulder Running Company becoming the presenting sponsor and official
training partner for the Cherry Creek Sneak, a running event tradition
for more than 30 years on the last Sunday of April with several races of
varying lengths to attract participants of all ability levels. Training
programs for runners and walkers created by 1993 World Championship
marathon gold medal winner Plaatjes, will also be available. Camaraderie
and fun will be the fringe benefits for runners participating in free
lunchtime social runs every Tuesday at noon beginning Jan. 14 that take
off from the store’s entrance. Runs will be led by staff members or an
executive from the nearby offices of the RSG corporate team.
“Opening
a new store always involves managing lots of logistics but when you
start to re-imagine all the possibilities for a specialty running store
with this much physical space, the planning and preparation is
especially high energy,” continued Gart. “The team at the Boulder
Running Company is recognized regionally and even nationally for their
high caliber staff that is among the most knowledgeable and experienced
in the industry. That expertise combined with the store’s connection to
so many Colorado runners makes the new store the next step in our
ongoing commitment to Colorado runners and walkers,” he added.
Doors open mid-February while a grand opening celebration with special activities is slated for early April.
Running
Specialty Group (RSG) is a leading specialty running retail business
with 46 stores located primarily in the Northeast, Virginia, Florida,
Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas and Colorado. The company also operates
an e-commerce business, Run.com.
By press release
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