Southern Runner Sports, New Orleans

Opened in 1982 by avid runners Mike Andrews and George Owen, Southern Runner not only stocks top-notch athletic apparel and footwear by brands including Asics, Moving Comfort, and New Balance, but also acts as a community center for those who love to run. Though Andrews and Owen still helm this runner’s haven, today they have additional support from a hodgepodge of life-long and late-in-life runners and walkers, including college athlete Kevin Fitzgerald, track coach and founder of Run, Chicks, Run Kristin Depp, and ultra-marathoner Tim Philips. When not helping fellow athletes find their perfect shoe with in-store foot evaluations, the crew leads weekly running groups, helps schools and coaches outfit their teams, and chases down bank robbers on foot.