Berkeley Running Company

While I was shopping here, I mentioned to the owner that this place is very impressive. He quickly said «hopefully not too impressive?! I don’t want to frighten people the way some athletic stores do with too much gear.» See, this would have been my impression of the place had it not been for the incredibly friendly demeanor of the owner and the staff as a whole. The level of service at this place is top-​notch, the sort of service and expertise you secretly hope for (and pay for) at small boutiques. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted and brought to an associate who got to work getting to know my feet. They asked me what I was looking for and what my activity level was, watched me walk around, correctly pointed out some orthopedic abnormalities that needed correcting, and set about looking for precisely the right sort of shoe for my lifestyle and physiology. We then tried on at least eight pairs of shoes, covering a wide gamut of options in terms of shapes, fits, and designs. All during this, he answered questions I had about running shoes, their mechanics, their care, and other sundry things that I’ve always wanted answered but never knew anyone knowledgeable enough to answer them. The last time I had that sort of attention, I was at Saks being fitted for a suit.
In short, the service here is impeccable. And if you want anything better than the cheapest disposable sneakers from Zappo’s, then come here and buy the right pair.
PS: I checked in on Unilocal and they gave me a coupon for $ 10 off! So don’t forget to do that.

Wide selection of shoes and running gear and all of the staff are super educated about their products. For a noob like me, the staff have offered good options on shoes while not being pushy. One of the employees, Steve, has helped me check out twice and has been very helpful in particular.

Huge selection in stock, very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They also have student discounts! I wear a weird size (w 10.5) and I was amazed by the options I had. And the shoes I bought are perfect!

My husband and I traveled an hour to Madison to come to this store.
We walked in and were greeted right away. +5 stars.
I started talking to the man about my running habits and he just looked at me and with a look in his face like, «why is this woman telling me about her running habits?» He was so uninterested in what I was looking for or my concerns with my running. I asked to run on the treadmill and expected him to assess my running… you know… because we are in a SPECIALTY RUNNING STORE. I got on the treadmill twice and not once did he ask me how the shoes felt, looked at me, or anything. He made me feel like I was a burden and that my business was not wanted. –4 stars (it would be –5 if that were possible on Unilocal)
So, I said f*** it and bought them somewhere else.

I went in to pick out a new pair of running shoes even though I couldn’t buy them for a few more weeks. The employee helped me determine what types of shoes would be best and even helped me find quality shoes for a low price. He made sure the fit was correct and that I would be comfortable running, which was a concern returning from an ankle stress fracture.
Updated: went back in to actually buy the shoes I picked out and everyone was so helpful again! They made sure I got the right size and fit since I was in between sizes and assured me that if I tried them out and don’t like them right away I can bring them back!

This is my first store to get fitted properly for a pair of running shoes. My first visit was a year ago, where I was promptly greeted by the owner, David, immediately upon walking in. As he led me to the back of the store where the running shoes are he asked about my running routines and style etc, making me very relaxed the entire time.
David measured my feet, analyzed my walking style and started bringing out pairs of shoes for me to try. He even went to the sales rack to see if there were any that fits my running style to help save some money on them. David and his team are really patient with me. They never insist on a particular pair just because they think it is good. They go out of their way to pair you up with shoes which you find comfortable. It was training with that pair of shoes which saw me complete my first 10 k run.
Recently I went back again to look for another pair of running shoes. Unfortunately I picked a wrong time as a series I was hoping to try on were out of stock because a new model will be launched the next month. But David and his team are as nice as always, never pushing me to buy a different product, and even thanked me for stopping by.
David and his team knows a lot about running and are always enthusiastic to share their experience and tips with you. They are also concerned about their customers: there was someone with a blister on her foot. David saw it as he was measuring her feet. He asked her how she got it and offered tips to avoid it in the future. Berkeley has running clubs for people of all standards and various discounts for students etc. Just check with their friendly team of professionals who clearly love what they do.

Love this place! The level of customer service provided by David and his staff is unparalleled by any store that I have shopped in for as long as I can remember. I brought my daughter in for her cross country running shoes for the second year in a row and was treated so well I would never consider going anywhere else. (David actually greeted us at the door and remembered that we had been there before… wow!) They made sure she had the right shoes for her feet and she couldn’t be happier with them. They have tons of other cool products for runners too! Can’t say enough great stuff about them… the best!

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. They don’t push brands or gimmicks.

I’m brand new to running and was very intimidated by going into a running shop. The owner immediately made me feel welcome and comfortable. The gentleman that fitted me for shoes was patient and very informative. I just completed my first run in the shoes that I bought and am very pleased!

I love running. When Groupon Madison offered a deal for Berkeley Running Company, I was pretty curious. I visit Madison about 3 times a year and figured I’d use it at some point. Alas, the Groupon was burning a hole in my pocket during this trip.
The running store is located just off the bridge in an upscale little shopping strip across the street from Whole Foods. Go figure. There’s plenty of parking spaces and the store is a bit on the small side, but chock full of really nice running gear. The staff is really helpful and friendly… come on! These people run and it shows. Of course they’re happy! Anyway, I ended up buying a cute pair of Smart wool socks and a Tiger Tail. Mmm… Tiger Tail on sore muscles= Bliss.
Worth checking out if you’re in Madison, but be aware that it’s a short car or nice bike ride from Downtown Madison.

This store is AWESOME! I had a terrible experience at another specialty running store, so when I walked in here I was pretty frustrated and apprehensive, but I couldn’t be happier with the level of service I received. They took the time to ask me all kinds of questions about my running style, watched me walk, then had me try several different shoes on the treadmill with the video monitor to show how my feet move. I found a fantastic pair of shoes at a really good price. I will definitely be going back here for all of my running shoes, and will highly recommend them to everyone.