Popular running store takes up residence on Main Street in Medford By Monica Hollenbeck for The Central Record The Haddonfield Running Company has branched out into Medford and opened up a fourth location at 62 South Main. The Medford Running Company kicked off its grand opening on Black Friday with 35 people joining in a morning run. Owner Dave Welsh said the store had triple the business than expected on Black Friday and he worked until 1 am on Thanksgiving, waiting a week to celebrate the holiday with his family, so he could have the store ready. “By far this has been the best town to work with in opening a store,” said Welsh, who has stores in Mullica Hill and Moorsetown, in addition to their flagship store in Haddonfield. Welsh says he owes a lot to Bob Wagner, owner of Braddock’s Tavern, who encouraged him to open up a Medford location. When Welsh was in town looking at a property, he saw Wagner leave Braddock’s wearing a pair of limited edition sneakers he could have only bought at a Running Company location. The two started talking that day and Wagner let Mayor Christopher Buoni know about Welsh’s interest in Medford. The Mayor then paid a visit to the Haddonfield store and told Welsh about the benefits of having a store in Medford and that the town would work with him. Welsh closed on the property Nov. 5 and was able to open three weeks later with the township’s help. The building needed gutters and rocks around the foundation to stop the erosion from rainwater. Welsh said that would have taken months to get approvals in a town with an historic committee. Welsh wants the store to look like part of the original town from a hundred years ago and not a running store. The first piece of furniture bought was a check-out counter from 1905 that he picked up at the Columbus Farmers Market. He said that has been a centerpiece for the decorating. Welsh, who is a Haddon Township running coach, chose Medford to provide a local shopping option for its 4 area high schools; Shawnee, Lenape, Cherokee and Seneca, and the Medford Milers and Pinelands Striders running clubs. “I used to drive out to the schools with spikes so this is smart from an investment standpoint.” Medford’s demographics was another key draw as well as its free on-street parking and lots located behind the buildings. “There are always street spaces in front of the store.” Welsh says he hopes with a local Medford store that people will skip the internet and shop local. 20% of his business comes from medical referrals. The Running Company sponsors the School of Running Company that helps runners prepare for upcoming races and Welsh says that the Medford’s school should be ready by next spring or summer.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:10:51 +0000
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