Running Fit owner Randy Step found a like-minded business to open next to his downtown Ann Arbor store: Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists.
Step, who purchased the 800-square-foot space at 121 E. Liberty St., in September, struck a deal with the physical therapy clinic, which was founded in 1999 and now has more than 25 locations. Metamorphosis Salon vacated the space for a new location in January.
Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists in downtown Ann Arbor will specialize in sports and running-related injuries under its The Running Institute umbrella.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
Because the downtown Ann Arbor Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists clinic will be adjacent to a Running Fit store, it will specialize in sports and running-related injuries under its The Running Institute umbrella.
“It’s quite a unique model and it’s all for helping patients come back from injuries and also helping runners at all levels with their form and training and every aspect you can think of with running,” explained Pete Kitto, a partner and regional director for Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists.
The clinic also sponsors running clinics, camps, races and group runs. Kitto said they will offer sports massage and possibly sports acupuncture.
“I’ve devoted my last 13 or 14 years of my practice to runners and I just think: ‘How can I help any kind of runner continue to run?’” Kitto said.
Having a downtown presence, he said, will give the clinic access to Univeristy of Michigan students.
Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists already operates The Running Institute with two Running Fit stores: one in Northville and one on Jackson Road in Ann Arbor. Kitto said it’s the perfect partnership.
“If you have a running injury or you’re shopping for shoes and have an injury, you can walk next door,” Kitto said. “Sales staff (at Running Fit) can bring people over and we do free assessments at any time. Then, if I want to fit people with shoes, I walk them next door.”
Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists is renovating the downtown Ann Arbor space now and Kitto hopes it will open in June or July.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.