Iowa Running Co. in Cedar Rapids combines quality footwear, events and local engagement to keep the community moving.
When the owners of a Cedar Rapids shoe store decided to retire and close shop in 2016 after nearly 20 years in business, two of the employees wanted to keep their feet planted firmly in the city. So, Jim Dwyer and Clifton Trebil-Smith found a location in the New Bohemia area of Cedar Rapids, and in 2017 opened the Iowa Running Co. Nearly a decade later, their business is still running right along.
“Clifton and I share a very similar vision on how to run a business, and what impact a business can have on its community,” Dwyer says. “We very intentionally chose this neighborhood because it’s a historic area near downtown, and it’s also close to our very vibrant trail system.”
With those physical connections already in place, Dwyer and Trebil-Smith set about creating a strong community connection as well. In addition to establishing a weekly group run and supporting a charity sock drive, the owners envisioned the Iowa Running Co. as being a central gathering place for all manner of outdoor enthusiasts.
“We like to think that we’re the shoe store version of (the television show) ‘Cheers,’ where the customer comes in and we know their name,” Dwyer says. “We love to have that human interaction. Yes, we are in the retail industry. But we like to view it as we’re actually in the hospitality industry.”
Putting the Right Fit Into Fitness
When IRC first opened, the store offered three shoe brands and not much else. Since then, the company has greatly expanded its footwear selection along with its overall apparel choices to include sunglasses, caps, exercise pants, athletic tops and running jackets. IRC even has its own coffee roast called RunWell…