Fleet Feet Sports

Owners: Russ and Andrea Gunnell

Address: 1020 E. Harold St., Fayetteville 72703

Phone/fax: 501-571-8786/571-2070

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

Start-up date: April 7

E-mail address: [email protected]

Russ and Andrea Gunnell opened a franchise of Fleet Feet Sports to sell running and walking shoes, sports apparel and accessories to Northwest Arkansas. Located in a renovated fire station off of College Avenue in Fayetteville, the Gunnells’ 2,250-SF store is the only Fleet Feet Sports in Arkansas.

The new shop carries name-brand shoes such as Nike, New Balance, Asics, Brooks and Saucony, but customers won’t find Reebok products. Reebok’s running shoe just doesn’t meet the store standards, Russ Gunnell said.

Fleet Feet Sports offers a unique service to the area by providing a gait analysis. A programmed treadmill examines the runner’s foot strike, and Gunnell recommends particular shoes to accommodate certain running styles.

Before opening the store, Gunnell spent five years working with the University of Arkansas’ women’s track and field teams. As a result, Gunnell became familiar with the Northwest Arkansas running community, and he decided to open a Fleet Feet Sports.

Headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., Fleet Feet Sports has 38 stores in the United States. Gunnell wouldn’t disclose the business’ starting costs or the franchise fee.