Fleet Feet Sports Boulder closing in 2 weeks

Because Fleet Feet charges ridiculous fees for a franchise. Not easy to work with.

The founders made a fortune. Hard to imagine they've lasted this long.

Too bad. Did they hire the Batman sprinting for 10secs in the A wave of BolderBoulder to run the store by mistake?

Isn’t Mark Plattjes (not sure of spelling) opening a new store in Boulder?

too much competition with online retailers who offer every shoe under the sun.

SweatFeet wrote:

Too bad. Did they hire the Batman sprinting for 10secs in the A wave of BolderBoulder to run the store by mistake?

Isn’t Mark Plattjes (not sure of spelling) opening a new store in Boulder?

My prediction is this becomes Mark's store, rebranded as In Motion Running.

Still sorry to see the FF crew go, they did a great job.

Local running stores have outlived their usefulness. There are some famous ones in town, and I've lived here for 7 years but haven't even been in them.

they serve no one wrote:

Local running stores have outlived their usefulness. There are some famous ones in town, and I've lived here for 7 years but haven't even been in them.

true. The only reason I go to them is nostalgia. I also rent movies from a rental store just for the memories. I like looking at the choices and the smell of popcorn, but redbox and amazon streaming is cheaper and easier.

NotInTheKnowInCO wrote:

SweatFeet wrote:

Too bad. Did they hire the Batman sprinting for 10secs in the A wave of BolderBoulder to run the store by mistake?

Isn’t Mark Plattjes (not sure of spelling) opening a new store in Boulder?

My prediction is this becomes Mark's store, rebranded as In Motion Running.

Still sorry to see the FF crew go, they did a great job.

Article on Mark Plaatjes’ new store. I think they said it’s near 30th street so wouldn’t be taking FF’s spot

Isn’t a wine place taking Vic’s espresso over by the FleetFeet store?

Conner from Running Warehouse wrote:

too much competition with online retailers who offer every shoe under the sun.

True. With the free 2 day shipping free returns and the coupon codes, it’s just what you do these days.

I think Plaatjes has the right idea if he makes running store into more of a hang out place than places to actually sell shoes.

Full Cycle in Boulder does this with more of a coffee shop/beers on tap set up in addition to all the bikes on display.

NotInTheKnowInCO wrote:

SweatFeet wrote:

Too bad. Did they hire the Batman sprinting for 10secs in the A wave of BolderBoulder to run the store by mistake?

Isn’t Mark Plattjes (not sure of spelling) opening a new store in Boulder?

My prediction is this becomes Mark's store, rebranded as In Motion Running.

Still sorry to see the FF crew go, they did a great job.

At least some of the FF crew will go to the new store.

Hayduke wrote:

they serve no one wrote:

Local running stores have outlived their usefulness. There are some famous ones in town, and I've lived here for 7 years but haven't even been in them.

true. The only reason I go to them is nostalgia. I also rent movies from a rental store just for the memories. I like looking at the choices and the smell of popcorn, but redbox and amazon streaming is cheaper and easier.

Can you tell me how you try on a shoe online?

rojo wrote:

Can you tell me how you try on a shoe online?

They send it to you. If it doesn't fit you send it back. It's time consuming but so is waiting a couple weeks for a running shop to get a special order sent for you.

rojo wrote:

Hayduke wrote:

true. The only reason I go to them is nostalgia. I also rent movies from a rental store just for the memories. I like looking at the choices and the smell of popcorn, but redbox and amazon streaming is cheaper and easier.

Can you tell me how you try on a shoe online?

You order 5-6 pairs of shoes from running warehouse and then you use the free ups ground label included to send back what you don’t like and/or what doesn’t fit

And new Fleet Feet store is about to open in Austin TX (next to Trader Jo's in Seaholm)

This is one of the first dominos to fall. The CEO was pushed out last year and his right hand man took over. The brand is struggling overall and they are trying to put a band aid on a gash.

Several other locations will be taken soon. They opened too many locations too fast and only relied on overall growth instead of comparable growth year over year. It’s coming back to bite them big time as the newer stores have stalled and the established stores are bleeding.

Run specialty has changed. Fleet feet hasn’t changed with it. If they are around in 5+ years I will be surprised. The UNC alum club at corporate has no idea what’s happening in the actual markets. They will have a rah rah session at the upcoming conference and deceive the operators and owners of what’s actually happening.

3D fit scanning? That’s cute.

Cheers.

-A

I am close with the former owner operator that was pushed out in my city not long ago. He was blindsided by corporate. Nobody shop at fleet feet. They aren’t local like they pretend to be. Shop for price online.

Not surprised. I live near a Fleet Feet and have been running with them off and on for the past couple of years. I only purchased several pair of shoes there and paid full price, which is okay. The other things I buy online and the discount stores. Why purchased a $45 singlet when I can buy it online for $18. Same thing with other apparel. They are just too expensive. Many people whom I run with feel the same way as I do. Still can’t the one near my house is still open.

Didn’t FleetFeet used to sponsor local race teams? Seems like I hadn’t seen that in awhile