Indiana Running Company to open downtown next week

For many people, the thought of opening a new business with their entire family is a nightmare. But for the Bartley family, the April 14 opening of the Indiana Running Company is more like a dream come true.\n“There’s a lot of pressure for us to succeed, so you have your moments when things get a little edgy, but we’re lucky we have a good family,” said Bill Bartley, co-owner of the company with wife Mickey Bartley and his mother.\nBen Bartley graduated from IU last spring and decided to open the business that provides an outlet for those looking for the perfect running shoes. Along with his friend, Matt Krack, they decided to set up shop after noticing an absence in the Bloomington running community.\n“I was a runner in high school, and when I came to IU, I was looking for a place to get my stuff rather than Indianapolis, and I recognized that there was a need for a running specialist store in the area,” Ben Bartley said.\nFor Ben Bartley, Bloomington couldn’t be a better fit for his new shop.\n“I love the city of Bloomington. It’s so beautiful, and to me it’s the perfect running environment,” Ben Bartley said, who graduated with a degree in education in May 2006. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” \nBen Bartley was eager to involve his family in his post-graduate endeavors. He said he knew they would bring a wealth of knowledge to the new company along with the ability to finance his project.\n“My dad is very business-savvy. My mom worked at a fitting store in Indianapolis where they focus on medical patients and diabetics, so that’s a niche that we’ll be getting,” Ben Bartley said.\nHis grandmother also hopes to target the walking community by being apart of the store’s senior effort, Bartley said. Though Ben’s grandmother is unable to run anymore, she still stays involved by reaching out to the Bloomington walking community. \n“There’s a big walking community in Bloomington,” Bill Bartley, Ben Bartley’s father, said. “She’s a great cook too. We’ve got some ideas with health foods we might pursue in the future.”\nThe Indiana Running Company is similar to other running store chains such as the Running Company in Indianapolis but is unique in that it caters specifically to Bloomington.\n“It’s going to be a very close family. The (Bloomington) running community itself is a very close family,” said employee Tom Chorny, a running consultant. “We want people to feel like they can stop by just to say hi and feel like this is the place to come for their running needs.”\nChorny said he is training to qualify for the Olympic trials.\nAlthough the company is already off to a good start – it has been receiving thankful e-mails from prospective customers eager to finally the store – Krack knows it will take some time to learn what the community lacks.\n“I’m not from here, but I know runners are runners wherever you go,” Krack said. “But there’s always a local flavor to the runners and that is the challenge.”\nThe store focuses on ensuring everyone who walks through the door finds the shoe that accommodates their needs, Krack said. They do this by observing the customers feet as they walk and jog up and down the 75-foot track inside the store.\n“First thing is you look at the kind of support they need and second you look at the foot shape,” Chorny said.\nThen a sales associate, or “running consultant,” provides the customer with several choices, which gives the right support for their specific foot type.\n“You’ll understand more when you walk out of this store then you would if you go to a different place.” Chorny said. “That’s one of the strongest things we can offer.”\nThe Indiana Running Company is located at 121 N. College Ave. and opens April 14. For more information, visit www.inrunco.com.