There’s something special about John’s Run/Walk Shop. Maybe it’s the smile a customer receives when walking through the door, or maybe it’s the broad selection of running apparel. What really sets John’s apart is their mission to not only help the customer find their soul mate in shoe form, but to also supply answers to any running-related question he or she may have.
Unlike many sports supply stores, John’s places an emphasis on customer service. Customers come seeking a friendly, running guru, and that’s just what the shop strives to provide.
Established in 1978, John’s Run/Walk shop was founded on a dream. John Sensenig, the entrepreneur behind John’s Run/Walk Shop, believed Lexington was in need of a running shop. Thus, the shop was born.
As the store’s popularity grew, Sensenig needed to add management staff. In 2001, he called on a good friend, Jim Johnson. Johnson had never worked in retail, but he was a runner and gladly accepted the challenge.
Today, John’s employs 30 workers, most of whom have been there for more than ten years, with a few even hitting the 20-year mark.
The store has also branched out to include four different locations. Recently, they opened a new Run/Walk Shop in Palomar Center.
Over the years, John’s has seen interest in marathons and long-distance running grow. The shop owner has also seen a shift in his customer base from predominantly male to 60 percent female.
Although John’s isn’t planning to extend its focus to include additional sports, the store maintains broad appeal. People come in looking for all kinds of shoes from racing flats to training shoes to shoes that will stay comfortable throughout a long day of work.
John’s Run/Walk Shop has survived and grown in times when many people go online to shop, due in large part to its commitment to customer service. Most of John’s employees are runners or cyclists, so they are able to answer questions with the kind of knowledge only someone with experience could have. John’s central focus is really on customer satisfaction, and the staff strives to build a relationship with every customer that walks into the shop.
“It’s not just selling them shoes. It’s helping them get started exercising, especially running,” Johnson said. “If you come in here, we can form a relationship with you — same thing with some of the races we do.”
It’s about offering help beyond just footwear. Frequent, returning customers come to John’s from as far away as Somerset. John’s dedication to its customers has allowed the company to surpass the lifetimes of most running shops, staying open for 35 years.
John’s Run/Walk Shop is also committed to helping out in the community. “We feel it’s so important to help people,” Johnson said.
John’s Run/Walk Shop holds the Iron Horse Half Marathon annually to benefit the Woodford Humane Society and the City of Midway Charities. In addition, its employees routinely speak at the YMCA and at local running groups like “Team and Training,” which raises money for leukemia research. John’s also works with the University of Kentucky to offer free clinics on running topics like injuries and training.
“The important things we do are the customer service and being a big part of the local running community and a resource for people who exercise,” Johnson said. “We want to be seen as a resource not just for running but also for being healthy.”
It’s this philosophy that makes John’s customers feel it is far from just a business. They feel there’s a heart to it. The staff strives to make it a place that doesn’t just sell products but also promotes running and serves as a community resource. At John’s, the mission is to answer every runner’s questions — and fit them with the perfect shoe along the way.