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Unlike big-box stores, small athletic retailers offer buyers specialized care
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Falls Road Running Store owner Jim Adams, in red shirt, joins runners during a store-supported race.
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Big-box sporting good stores such as the Sports Authority and Dick’s appear to be putting smaller mom-and-pop sporting good stores out of business, a few Wall Street analysts suggest.
Edward Weller, a financial analyst with Think Equity Partners in San Francisco, said Sports Authority and Dick’s are expanding with new stores, including several opening in Maryland. That is putting mom-and-pop stores out of business, Weller said.
Not so, according to Jim Adams and Deneen Habarta, owners of Falls Road Running Store and 5K Run Shop in Baltimore, respectively. They have found a niche market of customers looking for special products, special care and knowledge.
Both stores carry products from manufacturers such as Adidas, AmphiPod, Asics, BodyGlide, Brooks, Cliff Bar, CoolMax , Fila, Fuel Belt, Lin Socks, Louis Garneau, Mizuno, Nathan, New Balance, Nike and Puma. Those names may be foreign to the novice, but they are necessities to the serious runner.
“We serve the needs of runners and walkers,” said Jim Adams, owner of Falls Road Running Store at 6247 Falls Road in Baltimore.
He said the store sells training shoes that are good for treadmill running and workouts.
“If you’re looking for a football shoe, we don’t have it. If you need a basketball shoe, we don’t have it. If you need a tennis shoe, we don’t have it,” Adams said.
But their niche is having salespeople with a passion for running and jogging, and stocking the special gear demanded by runners, such as socks that don’t absorb sweat and thus create foot blisters, Adams said.
In fact, his store doesn’t carry cotton socks because the serious runner won’t wear them.
Adams is an avid runner and his shop sponsors runs and helps competitors get special gear.
Deneen Habarta, owner of 5K Run Shop at 736 S. Bond Street in Baltimore, has run more than eight marathons and competes in several Baltimore City running events.
For runners there is a big difference between the big-box retailers and shops like hers, she said.
“The level of customer service is different,” Harbata said.
“Our staff is extremely well versed in the product and how to fit the product with what the customers needs,” she said.
eeldridge@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:02 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 24, 2008 re: "Eastern Motors founder Bassam finds fortune with second-chance financing"
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Examiner Reader said:
I work for Eastern motors myself and he has friends that work for him that are fake back stabbers they shake your hand but talk behind your back at the same time. I dont know Robert in person but Iwould hope that he is not this way but his friends that work for him are above the law meaning they can get a person fired any time they want even if they are wrong in a situation but that drives away hard workers maybe Robert should not have friends in top positions it can be mis leading and really not fair right is right wrong is wrong no matter if its Roberts friends or not.
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Examiner Reader said:
add to the list won,t pay his employees.he rude, he lies . he is a cheet and I know this because i worked for him. it seems like the rags.to riches store and it sounds good. but don,t be fooled
2 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
That guy Robert is a smart mofo. Everyone knows Eastern Motors and they are all over the place! Gotta love that jingle! Go Easterns!
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Conscientious observer - you are an idiot and deserve what happened to you.
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Examiner Reader said:
Are there flights out of MacArthur Airport on Long Island New York to Washington Dulles
122 agree | 105 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I understand that we should not choose a President based on his religious beliefs,but tell me---how can we support a President in defending our country when he doesn"t even believe in pledging allegiance to it!!!!?????
204 agree | 139 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Dewalt system is good for notification but the alarm only sounds for 20 seconds and shuts off. The alarm is not loud at all if it were in the middle of a large job site nobody would hear it.
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Makis said:
Nice!
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Examiner Reader said:
I can't believe Fort Monmouth has a bunch of whinos have they ever heard of commuting on the Acela from New Jersey every morning my guess is no.
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Examiner Reader said:
Ed Hale is a real inspiration. He's the perfect model of the American dream. LL Detroit
332 agree | 288 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
fort monmouth should close down! it's a waste of tax payers money. (civilian employee's have 2 hour lunch breaks, there is so much infidelity going on there, sex in parking lot, etc) The come and go as they please, and we the tax payers pay for this. Put the money where it is needed, in defense!
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