Anyone who has been to San Francisco could attest that it is one of the great cities of the World. Merely mentioning the name conjures instant images of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, steep stairstep roads and trolley cars. San Francisco leaves it's mark on you in one way or another every time you visit. Many people go to San Francisco on business. If you're an athletic person that wants to keep workin' it in this city by the bay, it can be intimidating. For travelers with limited time, running is the best option.
Shane Cooper, right, and Brett Lamb, owner of Fleet Feet San Francisco

Brett Lamb owns Fleet Feet Sports. Located at 2076 Chestnut St. (@Steiner), his store is in the ideal location for running or walking. Just a quick hop on foot away from Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina, and running paths with unobstructed views of San Francisco's landmarks, Brett knows it's all about location. He actually wrote the brochure about running routes in San Francisco (available for free at his store). Forget to bring your shoes or shorts? Fleet Feet on Chestnut is the place to go.
The San Francisco Running Route brochure. Available at Fleet Feet San Francisco.

Last week DeFeet stopped in to say hello and catch up with Brett and some of his employees. Here, Brett sits down, scratches his scruff, and answers the D's 6pac of Q's.

Q: Tell us, what does the combination of San Francisco and running mean to you?

A: We are very lucky to have what we have in San Francisco as runners. The weather is amazing year-round, the scenery is beautiful, and we are surrounded by hundreds of thousands of like-minded fitness enthusiasts. There are so many options for the San Francisco runner. We have world-class events in our own backyard like the Nike Women’s Marathon. We have a paved sidewalk that runs from the SF Giants ballpark around the perimeter of the city, over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Marin County without having to cross a street or worry about traffic. You could literally run twenty miles without having to stop. Golden Gate Park has infinite amounts of trails to run. If that’s not enough, there are practically more gyms with treadmills than there are Starbucks. There is never a reason not to take a run in San Francisco. I grew up in Oklahoma and didn’t have a ton of options with my runs. I remember running the same four mile loop with my dad nearly every weekend for years. Now when he comes out to visit me we can pick a different route every time.

Q: You're a young, good looking guy and a business owner. You have big hair and so do some of your employees. Is this a Bay Area retro movement?

A: I can’t speak for all of the Bay Area on the retro movement, but I’m not afraid to wear button-down with a butterfly collar to work if the mood hits me. A fellow Fleet Feet owner once asked me if we had a dress or appearance code in our store, and of course I said we do. I think any good specialty retailer should take pride in their appearance and presentation. Our dress code is as follows: Hair length must be Robert Plant or longer, otherwise we’re not interested.

Q: In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing running, today?

A: Excellent question. There is a growing trend to really push the envelope with new technologies and products from the vendor side. Brooks and Asics both came out with new types of mid-sole rubber in the last 18 months. Their products are becoming lighter, better cushioned, and more durable as a result. Nike is making a big push with their Nike+ technologies in both footwear and apparel. I’ve always felt like the snowboarding industry and the cycling world were the most cutting edge with new products and options for their participants, but running is right there with them now. If you had asked me two years ago if I thought it would be possible to go on a run, listen to any song in my entire music collection, hear how fast I’m moving and how far I’ve gone at any point, and even have Lance Armstrong congratulate me at the end of my run I would have laughed. But today it’s a reality, and just the tip of the iceberg.

I think it is important for retailers to continue to demand these types of advances from the vendors we work with. Runners and walkers deserve the very, very best products that are available both in technology and fashion. It’s really easy for a manufacturer to make an average product, but best ideas are still out there. The better the products that we as runners get to use, the more fun running will become, and the more people will keep enjoying our sport.

Q: What's the hip spot in the City to go for a post run beer, some schnizzle schnacks, and maybe.. oh, a martini.

A: There are too many great spots to just mention one…but I do have a few favs. In the Marina District (where our store is located) there is a great little bar/restaurant two blocks down called Bistro Yoffi. The bartender makes a mean vodka martini and a meaner margarita. Five nights a week they have live jazz music from some fantastic local artists. Another great spot for something a little different is Bissap Baobab in the Mission District. The cuisine and drinks are all West African. They use hibiscus as a mixer for a lot of their drinks and have an amazing menu. If I’m ever on death row…this will be where my final meal will come from! One more worth mentioning is Rohan’s in the Richmond District. On the surface they seem like a lot of other bars in the City, but this one mixes all of their drinks with a rice-based drink similar to vodka, only sweeter and lighter. It’s probably best to take a cab to this place; the drinks go down pretty easy.

Q: Have you seen any rock stars, recently?

A: Actually, yes. The singer and the axe-man from The Levitators paid us a visit last week on their way to a show in the North Bay. I’ve never caught one of their shows but hear they are huge in the Carolinas. Their sound is something of a hybrid between early Janet Jackson, Limp Bizkit, and a little Tom Jones. I’m looking forward to their next California tour; I hear that Green Day will be opening.

Q: Your staff is incredibly friendly, knowledgable and helpful. How did you pull that off?

A: I am truly one lucky guy. I have the best team in the industry. I definitely did my homework prior to buying my store, and spent a lot of time planning out the flow and roles of my team during the transition from the previous owner. I really admire companies like Google and Zappos for their HR focus, and would love to be able to replicate that on some level. They both do a great job of creating an environment where everyone feels respected and valued; and their benefits are amazing. (free meals, dry cleaning, day-care, pet grooming…etc, all available at both companies for the employees) In retail it is hard to offer the same type of compensation or perks as a software company, but I do my best. All of my full time employees are eligible for free health care after they’ve been with me for six months. I also keep them in a fresh pair of shoes every three months, free lunches on weekend shifts, free race entries, quarterly dinners with their spouses/significant others, and they get a great deal on running products to boot.

Like I said, I’m a lucky guy. My fiancée, Kim, works in a corporate atmosphere and helps me see our business from an employee’s perspective. I take a lot of her anecdotes about her work environment to heart. It is definitely my job to keep my staff happy and motivated. If I can do that, our customers will have a great experience with us every time. It doesn’t hurt either that all of my employees are wonderful people, well educated (all are either college graduates or currently in school), have an athletic background, and totally believe in our customer-service driven business model. Turnover in retail is very common, but my hope is that our employees can find a home at Fleet Feet – San Francisco as long as they want to be here.