Fleet Feet announced the acquisition of Capital City Runners, a former running retailer located in Tallahassee, FL out of bankruptcy.
Tyler Perkins, an experienced running retail manager, will operate the store, which opened May 4.
Perkins, a former naval flight engineer and former sheriff’s deputy, previously worked alongside his parents, Edgar and Carolyn Perkins, in the Fleet Feet location in Stuart, FL that they have operated since 2013.
“Having watched my parents find such fulfillment in helping people, operating their own business and creating a running community, I’m thrilled to follow in their footsteps,” said Perkins. “The running community can expect a lot of amazing resources, a top-notch staff and personalized services and solutions when we open on May 4, including access to fit id, Fleet Feet’s exclusive 3D foot scanning system.”
Perkins spent one year in Fleet Feet’s Leadership Development Program, an initiative that identifies, trains, and prepares existing Fleet Feet staff nationwide for future leadership and ownership opportunities. Before enrolling in the program, Perkins spent one year working at the Fleet Feet in Chicago, Ill. He and his wife, Mackenzie, have a two-year-old daughter, Hazel.
“The team at Capital City Runners built a great community here in Tallahassee,” said Perkins. “I look forward to building upon that foundation with what I’ve learned from my parents and Fleet Feet to create a really special experience for the running community.”
In the fall, Fleet Feet will move to a permanent location, also located in Miracle Plaza, that will reflect the layout and design of other Fleet Feet locations opened in the past two years. While Capital City Runners had a second location on Bannerman Road in Tallahassee, Fleet Feet has no plans to open or re-open a second location.
Perkins said the store will hold a “Community Day” event sometime in May and will include raffle prizes, staff meet-and-greets, giveaways and more. With the opening of its Tallahassee location, Fleet Feet now has a total of seven locations in Florida; one each in Delray Beach, Fort Myers, Sarasota, and Stuart and two locations in Orlando.
Founded in 1976, Fleet Feet Sports is the largest franchisor of locally owned and operated running stores, with 175 locations in 38 states and a national headquarters in Carrboro, NC.
