Ian Forsyth and Nick Stanko met as cross country runners at the University of Michigan, and they've been friends ever since. They've also both stayed connected to running through their careers, and those ties will become even deeper as the now business partners prepare to open their first venture:
Ann Arbor Running Company.
"We think we have a lot to offer," says Forsyth. "We can give advice on any kind of training. No tricks, no gimmicks, just a nice place to go and get advice and get shoes, and a comfortable place to be."
That place will be located in the Oak Valley Shopping Center. Forsyth says they chose the location because it's one side of town without a running store currently, and because they expect growth in the area will bring more traffic to the store.
"We looked around a bunch of different places, including different cities. I heard from numerous people that Jackson was a good place to go, but Nick was very passionate about Ann Arbor," Forsyth says. "Running is a huge thing in Ann Arbor these days."
The 3,200 square foot Ann Arbor Running Company will feature handmade racks and furnishings. Renovations on the space are underway, and Forsyth hopes to open the shop by early August. Though he and Stanko will initially run the store themselves, he anticipates hiring three full-time employees and a few part-time employees during their first year.
Source: Ian Forsyth, Ann Arbor Running Company
Writer: Natalie Burg
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