Potomac River Running Opens Near W&OD Trail In Vienna

VIENNA, VA—Potomac River Running Store has opened its doors in Vienna, and the location next to the Washington and Old Dominion Trail couldn't be more fitting. The store is located at 111 Maple Ave West.

On first glance, Potomac River Running is a sports store selling athletic shoes, apparel and equipment. But among sports stores, Potomac Running stands out for its personalized service, especially for shoe fittings.

Store manager Brian McElhaney tells Patch the Vienna location is one of 10 stores in the country offering a "Fit Station," which takes 2D and 3D images. Add that to the customer's personal preferences, and the staff will come up with a few pairs of shoes to try on.

Customers can also leave the store feeling confident that the shoes feel comfortable. They can hop on the store's treadmill and walk or run in the shoes. Staff also encourage customers to wear the shoes two times before deciding to return them for a new pair. "We want to get it right so we can make you a happier person as a walker or a runner," said McElhaney.

For the staff, it's not just about selling the shoes. They'll offer running tips to anyone that walks in, and one of the most common questions often involves injuries. That's why they swap advice with medical professionals about injuries and shoe technology that both the business and doctor's offices can use.

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The sense of community is evident around the store, from a kiosk displaying upcoming local races to a weekly "Taco Trot Run" that ends at Taco Bamba. Potomac River Running also collaborates with local high schools to provide shoe fittings for athletes. So far, it's worked with Madison, Oakton and George Mason High Schools, Flint Hill School and The Potomac School.

And it's no surprise they've taken advantage of the proximity to the W&OD Trail by adding lockers for runners to use.

"We wanted to make some community part of the store," co-owner Ray Pugsley told Patch about the lockers, a feature exclusively offered in the Vienna store.

The store relocated from its Falls Church/Tysons location on Leesburg Pike, and the staff couldn't be happier with the Maple Avenue location.

"It's been such a welcoming atmosphere," Pugsley told Patch. "People appreciate small business."

The new location has been open for over a month but celebrated its grand opening Thursday with Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco.

The Pugsley and Shapiro families opened their first Potomac River Running Store in Ashburn back in 2003 and soon decided to add a Burke location. When they added a Reston Town Center location three years later, the business took off as other areas sought locations. Today, Potomac River Running Store can be found in Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, DC, Fairfax, Leesburg, Reston and Vienna.

Images via Patch staff