About Us
The Running Place opened its doors in March 2001 in its current Newtown Square location. Pattie Bucaccio and Joan Osborne went into the business to help both walkers and runners find the best footwear and apparel available on the market. In 2009, Joan retired and Bill Frawley became co-owner with Pattie. Bill had worked at the store since 2004, so it was a natural transition into ownership. Pattie and Bill continue to embrace the original goal of helping customers find the best products to meet their needs.
Thanks to you, our loyal customers, The Running Place continues to grow and prosper. Recently we received one of our greatest compliments from a customer – a mother came in with her teenage daughters, both run for their high school track team. They had just come from a sporting goods store, where a shopper overheard them talking about getting running shoes. She told them that the only place to get expert advice for running shoes was The Running Place. They had not heard of our store before, but promptly left and came to us. Wow, what validation!
We wouldn't expect loyalty without doing everything possible to keep you satisfied. From the get-go we've realized the key to success is to offer expert advice and caring service. Isn't that the reason anyone would go to a specialty store? By now you know that we're passionate about what we do and truly enjoy it. We're fortunate to have a dedicated staff that matches our philosophy and passion.
The Running Place Staff
Andi Lieberman
Andi Lieberman ran track and cross country in high school. Then there was long break before she took it back after she and husband, Eric, started a family. The running was much needed for stress relief! Andi then discovered Fast Tracks running club through Joan Osborne, one of the original owners of TRP. Joan invited Andi to join a training group for the Broad Street Run and she was hooked!
Qualifying for and running the 2011 Boston Marathon in 2011 is Andi’s favorite running accomplishment. More importantly, her favorite aspect of running is the community - she has made many good friends. “Runners are the best people,” she says.
Andi says she joined The Running Place team because of the wonderful community, which she knows well through her long as a customer. “I love all things running, especially if its purple…”
The Right Foot Forward Your Experience
At The Running Place, our goal is to ensure that you not only receive the right shoes, but also understand the reasons behind the choice. We provide free consultations, where we perform a gait analysis, inspect your worn out shoes for telling wear patterns, and talk with you about any injury history. All of this information helps us determine what shoe type is best for you.
Every journey begins with the first step. Before you take that first step, make sure you have the right shoes to get you where you are going. There are high arches, flat arches, and all heights in between. Some feet are rigid and some are flexible. There are different categories of shoes - different foot types are more comfortable and perform better in the right category. We will help you determine your foot type and which category best suits your needs.
