Gazelle Sports is planning to renovate its store in downtown Kalamazoo.
According to Chris Lampen-Crowell, owner of the store, he expects to spend about close to $150,000 on the project. It will include all-LED lighting throughout the store, updating the furnishings and fixtures in the store, and new flooring.
The retailer, which sells running and sportswear, had reconsidered relocating the Kalamazoo store, but Lampen-Crowell said that it is now committed to remaining in the downtown area.
The current store opened in December 1985, has retail space in the amount of 7,300 square feet and about 25 full- and part-time employees.
The retailer has another store in Holland, Michigan, which opened in February 1989. This past June, Gazelle Sports opened a store in Northville, in the Detroit area.
From now until December 15, the store is celebrating its 30th anniversary. According to Lampen-Crowell, the celebration will be a care challenge where staff and customers are asked to do something extra for others each day. The idea is to demonstrate that the store cares about its staff, its customers, and the community.
Gazelle Sports is also asking those who are familiar with the store who have memorabilia, or poster printing companies that might have been involved in the early days of the store, to bring in their items so that they can be put into a time capsule to be opened some time in the future.
