Pacers Running is looking to downsize its flagship store at 1301 King Street within the next year.
The store was the regional specialty running retailer’s first and in 2010 the business actually expanded into building next door. With advances in technology, however, Pacers CEO Kathy Dalby says the store has more space than it needs.
In particular, Dalby said shipping to stores has become a more reliable and speedy affair than it was when the company started, meaning Pacers Alexandria doesn’t need as much room for inventory storage.
“We don’t need to be 4,000 square feet,” Dalby said. “We’re going to be about 2,200 or 2,000 square feet. It’s going to be a great run shop with a better merchandising layout. It’ll be easier for staff to service customers.”
The approval process for the renovations is still pending, so Dalby was reticent to say more about the plans, but the new renovations could occur in early 2020 if all goes well.
There are six Pacers stores throughout the region, with three in Northern Virginia and three in D.C.
The location on King Street is also the largest of the Pacers stores, according to Dalby. It primarily serves local residents, she said.
“We have a lot of people in that store who are local to Alexandria or people from Prince George’s County [Maryland],” Dalby said. “Alexandria is a very different demographic than 14th Street [in D.C.]. We see a lot of families come through that store, some very long-standing customers. It’s been cool to help them and see kids grow up. Kids who worked here for summers and are grownups with children. It’s so eclectic.”