Death of a Small Town Running Shoe Store

Running shoe stores are a business but they’re not selling widgets, they’re selling dreams. Last month, the Runners Den in Paris, Ontario, was demolished and its community is still processing what that means. 

“It’s devastating,” says Michael Hamilton, a longtime friend of the store who helped organize their long runs, destination events and social calendar. “I know you can buy things online, but running is not just about the sneakers, it’s about our community.”  

According to one Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses report, 75% of small businesses took on extra debt during the pandemic and Statistics Canada reported last July that during the pandemic 23% of small businesses closed. 

Debbie Jones, pictured below, who opened the Paris Runners Den in 2000, says her shop was already running for longer than she originally intended (it was only meant to be a five year gig), but she acknowledges saying goodbye is bittersweet.  

“The store was about keeping people healthy and reaching their goals, but going fast? I left that to other people,” says Jones, with a laugh. “It would be awesome to have another running store open up here, but my hope is that even though the store is gone, our small town will always have a healthy running community.” 

Almost three-quarters of footwear purchases, according to a 2022 survey of Apparel and Footwear shopping, are made online. That business, which could be worth more than $6-billion in Canada, is the bread and butter of independent running stores. But if selling sneakers is what keeps the lights on at shops in big and small cities across the country, it’s the relationships between runners fostered by group leaders that give the shops a life of their own. 

After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, runners from the Paris, Ontario community gathered to honour the victims. There were five Boston racers that day connected to the Paris Runners Den and two of those racers were pulled off the course while authorities tried securing the area. On May 4, 2013, local runners participated in a 4.15 mile run/walk in Boston, Ontario, to commemorate the victims of that terrible day. 

“I was not going to let that random act stop us from doing what we love to do — run,” says Michael Hamilton, who carried the Canadian flag that day.  

Indie running stores helped nurture the career of many elite Canadian runners, and Krista DuChene, pictured above with her friends, has long been associated with the Paris Runners Den. Nevertheless, Debbie Jones says her intention was always to focus on beginners.  “In Paris, I felt like we needed more runners and the way to get them would be to offer first-time clinics,” says Jones, a multiple Boston finisher who nevertheless dismisses her running prowess. “With our group, it didn’t matter if you were the fastest or the slowest because our guiding principle was not to judge — we were a big family.” 

What happens to the family when their house goes dark? Who will greet the next generation of runners? Debbie Jones says she’s fortunate to have done something she’s loved. She raced 21 marathons and made lasting friendships, including being asked to be Maid of Honour at three of her runner’s weddings. Mike Hamilton, meanwhile, traveled to Boston, New York, London and Chicago with his run crew. He says they took pride in their matching singlets. They were known for their cheering at events.  

“Cheering for the runners in our group always felt just as good as my own racing,” says Mike. “I’ll always treasure the friendships I’ve made and how my life has changed over the past 20 years of running connected to that store.”