Family Opens 6th Fleet Feet Store in Washington

Fleet Feet announced today the opening of its newest location in Richland, Wash. The new store, owned by Julie and Wade Pannell, is located at 620 George Washington Way. The Pannells own five other Fleet Feet stores in the state, including Bonney Lake, Spokane, Spokane North, Spokane Valley and Tacoma. With stores on the west and east sides of the state, the Tri-Cities location provides a convenient link between the other stores and serves as an ideal spot for runners and walkers.

“The Tri-Cities area has a growing active population. With its quick access to the Columbia River and regional mountains, it’s the perfect place to introduce new customers to the Fleet Feet brand,” said Wade Pannell. “We’ve trained more than 2,500 runners and can’t wait to show even more people how running can make a positive impact on their lives.”

The Pannells’ introduction to Fleet Feet began when Wade was looking to get healthy. At the time, they were living in Montana, and Wade visited his local Fleet Feet to be fit for running shoes. He began running in 30-second increments, working his way up to 30 minutes of running consistently. Over time, he found a running community and discovered the joy of running.

In 2009, Wade began working at his local Fleet Feet as an outfitter to learn about the brand and specialty retail. Another career opportunity moved the family to Spokane. After falling in love with the area and running community, the Pannells decided to plant their roots in the Pacific Northwest and open their first store; Fleet Feet Spokane opened in 2012.

“Julie and Wade have done an incredible job connecting with their customers in each of their store markets, and investing in their communities,” said John Moloznik, vice president of retail development at Fleet Feet. “We’re excited to expand into this area with the Pannells and know their passion for running will make Fleet Feet Tri-Cities a huge success.”

Fleet Feet Tri-Cities’ grand opening will take place in late March. Festivities will include a ribbon cutting, fun run from the store, special deals and giveaways from top brands. The store will also offer the popular Ignite! 5k Training Program starting in March, with plans to add a half-marathon group in the fall.

Fleet Feet Tri-Cities will operate with the brand’s personalized outfitting experience, fit id, which includes pressure plates and 3D foot scanning technology that allows the brand to assess the size and shape of customers’ feet accurately and how each foot moves through the gait cycle. This personalized, expert-led approach allows outfitters to offer the right fitting footwear and
accessories for each customer.

Founded in 1976, Fleet Feet first opened its doors in Sacramento, Calif. What began as a running store quickly transformed into a hub for the running community. Today, Fleet Feet’s nationwide network of community-based retail stores are a place of inspiration