Runner expands dream into Naperville business

Kris Hartner started running when he was in seventh grade. A year later, he created a business card and made up his mind that he would someday own his own running shop.

Once Hartner puts his mind to something, whether it's the Ironman triathlon or a career goal, he sees it through. Monday, he expanded the Naperville Running Co. store he opened a decade ago to a new, larger location at 34 W. Jefferson, just down the street.

"We didn't fit in (the original location) anymore," Hartner said. "The merchandise didn't fit and there were so many people in the store on the weekends. It was a good problem to have."

Now, twice as many customers can fit in the shop, which features a two-lane running track in the shoe fitting area.

"Kids like to run around it," Hartner said.

The new shop can better fit the shoe selection featuring more than 200 styles of running, casual and cross training shoes. The most popular lines include Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike and Saucony, he said.

Running and triathlon apparel as well as yoga and Pilates attire and equipment are other highlights.

"We work with 100 different vendors," he said.

While about 80 percent of Hartner's customers are runners, Hartner is finding that more and more people are coming in just to find comfortable shoes. With the help of fitting machines, his employees, all runners, are trained to fit customers with the shoe that best matches their foot, he said.

It's the fitting process that Hartner says helps to differentiate his shop from his competitors.

Growing up in Minnesota, Hartner has been working in running stores since he was 16. He earned a master's degree in biomechanics, worked for Reebok and Adidas for nine years and then opened his store in downtown Naperville.

He and his wife Susanna are raising two children, Kate, 8, and Paul, 11, in Naperville.

The family, with the help of employees and friends, moved the entire store Sunday night in time for Monday's opening.

The shop operates in the same building as the Naperville Masonic Temple.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more, call (630) 357-1900 or check out runningcompany.com.

Kim Mikus covers small business. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherald.com.