Runner's Roost owners Linda and Gary Staines are moving theirfoot-wear, apparel and accessories store from 107 E. Bijou St. to121 N. Tejon St. The store has been on Bijou Street for 31 years.
A shimmering crimson sign already stands proudly atop the facadeof Runner's Roost's future location.
Owners Linda and Gary Staines are leaving their current locationon Bijou Street for larger digs around the corner at 121 N. TejonSt. The move is planned to be completed during early May, followingrenovation to bring the new space up to code.
Runners Roost has occupied 1,950 square feet at 107 E. Bijou St.for 31 years. The Staines purchased the business during 2004 andliked the location.
'We've just outgrown our space,' Linda said. 'We're a downtownbusiness, so we wanted to stay downtown.'
The new store has double the retail space, which will allow theStaines to offer more of the products they're known for, as well asexpanded product lines.
Linda Staines said Runner's Roost remains vibrant, despite thechallenges all retailers face during a recession.
'We're holding our own,' she said. 'I think our operations willbe way smoother in a bigger location and it will make things easierfor customers and our staff. We hope in the long term that it willbenefit everybody.'
Affordable shoes
About 60 percent of shoes imported into the United States are hitwith a tariff, and the National Retail Federation is lobbyinglegislators to end the 70-year-old tax.
In a bill labeled 'The Affordable Footwear Act,' the NRF hasasked Congress to pass legislation that would eliminate tariffs on awide range of low-cost imported shoes, saying the new law would saveshoppers upward of $800 million a year.
NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullen said the shoe tax was adoptedto protect a domestic shoe industry that no longer exists. Thetariff rates are highest for the lowest cost shoes, so in essence,low-income families are paying more for a basic necessity.
The proposed legislation would eliminate tariffs on about 1.5billion pairs of shoes annually and would apply to low-cost footwearranging from high heels to sneakers.
New iTunes prices
iTunes, Apple Inc.'s Internet music retailer, has launched itsnew pricing structure.
Formerly, the online store priced most songs at 99 cents. Now,songs range from 69 cents to $1.29, for the most popular hits.
Record companies will choose the prices in exchange for droppingdigital rights management technology, which hinders user's abilityto copy tracks or play the songs on multiple computers.
Sports retailer expands
The Sports Authority held grand openings for nine locations, fromArizona to New Jersey, on April 4.
The Englewood-based sporting goods retailer operates two storesin Colorado Springs and one in Pueblo.
Special Olympics fundraiser
Local law enforcement officers will don aprons and servecustomers at Red Robin restaurants in Colorado Springs on April 18.
As part of the fifth annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser, officersperform wait service in exchange for customer tips. Money collectedwill benefit Special Olympics Colorado. The organizations have set agoal to raise $80,000 statewide.
Tip-A-Cop is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Runcampaign, which includes an international series of relay runs andspecial events to help raise money for and awareness about SpecialOlympics.
