On a warm summer day in Columbus, you’ll encounter runners of all varieties out exercising along park trails, the Scioto Mile, the sidewalks at Goodale Park and up and down High Street as well as side streets. But if any of these urban joggers need to buy new footwear, their closest options include a drive to the Lennox Town Center or beyond.
The Columbus Running Company noticed this need, and is planning to open a new store at 765 North High Street (the former Sole Classics location) this spring.
“It’s not quite your traditional shoe store,” says co-owner Jim Jurcevich. “We’re hosting social runs, putting on road races and working with local charities. It’s important to us to be involved in our community.”
The Columbus Running Company is locally owned and operated with three existing stores in Dublin, Pickerington and Westerville. The shop has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Running Stores in the US by Competitor Magazine for the past two years.
“There are hundreds of stores across the country,” explains Jurcevich. “You have to be able to appeal to everyone from beginning walkers to seasoned runners to be named one of the best.”
The store will carry brands including Brooks, Nike, Asics and Saucony as well as running-themed apparel created by Homage. The shop also sells accessories such as GPS watches and sports detergent.
“We’ve had a lot of success with our suburban stores,” adds Columbus Running Company co-owner Matt DeLeon. “But we’ve always had our eye on Downtown, and the Short North is the heart of Columbus. We hope to be a strong local contributor to the scene.”
For more information, visit www.columbusrunning.com.
Photos provided by The Columbus Running Company.