Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood is now home to Asics America’s latest retail store. The more than 3,200-square-foot location includes Asics latest collections including running, training, volleyball and tennis.

The location is also staffed by a team of experts to help Chicagoans find the perfect shoe pairing with Asics FOOT ID, a free, state-of-the-art, computerized gait analysis.

To celebrate its arrival to the Windy City, Asics is revving up its Asics Treadmill Challenge.  The treadmill challenge will give residents a taste of Asics “Better Your Best” mentality with the opportunity to step into the shoes of an elite marathoner.  This one-of-a-kind custom treadmill runs at only one speed – Asics elite athlete Ryan Hall’s record 4:46 mile marathon pace. Chicago residents can take on the Asics Treadmill Challenge in the Lincoln Park Zoo Parking Lot on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1.

As part of its commitment to the Chicago community, Asics has partnered with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), the largest running association in the Midwest.  Asics will be the official shoe of CARA’s 2014 Summer Marathon training program. Additionally, Asics Bucktown will host weekly fun runs with CARA every Tuesday night, beginning May 27th.  In addition, Asics is also supporting CARA’s Road Scholars program, a youth development program designed to build confidence and self-esteem, for at-risk Chicago area High School students, through a mentorship-based running program that achieves positive impact in education and life. Asics will provide all students with complimentary running gear for training and race day.

“Chicago has long been a hub for fitness in the Midwest, so it is only natural for the Windy City to be our next stop as Asics continues to expand its retail footprint,” says Kevin Wulff, Asics America President and CEO.  “With such an active community already, we’re looking forward to providing athletes of all levels, including more than 8,600 CARA members, with the tools they need to continue their pursuit to better their best.”

The storefront is located at 1630 N Damen Ave. in the Bucktown. 

Asics now has 5 full-line stores across the U.S. Last year, Asics opened
a location in Newport Beach, CA, in August and one in 14th street in
Manhattan's Meatpacking District in November. In February of this year, a
store opened in Scottsdale, AZ. Its first stand-alone Asics retail
full-price store opened on 42nd street in New York City in 2009.