They've been in the South Bay forever and they are the running experts. Friendliest staff so check em out!

I'm normally a boot person but when my foot dr. told me to buy sneakers I went right away to village runner. I bought a pair and used them for almost a whole month but then my foot hurt after a big day of walking so I took them up on their 30 day return policy which was great because when I shared about my foot pain they knew why the first sneaker was not perfect for me. I exchanged that pair with a different brand that is better for my foot. I felt seen and totally cared for. I should note that buying shoes is my least favorite thing and I normally just repair my boots till the shoe repair person tells me to throw them out, but my experience at village runner was actually enjoyable. I might even become a sneaker person. The new owner is great and I love the old owner too. All the staff is kind and knowledgeable. A big thank you for their help. read more

Village Runner - The sneakers I got that are working great. - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Forget the giant sporting goods superstore. When it comes to running, walking (i.e., serious walking as exercise), or even everyday sneakers, this is the place to go. They are serious about getting the right materials surrounding your feet as a function of what you do with those feet. If you've ever played ice hockey, The Village Runner is to running footwear what Graf was to hockey skates. They're serious and they don't traffic in horse^#%$. read more

Please note that they are in a new location. Good thing I checked with Yelp and went to the new location right by Sacks on the Beach. I bought my last 2 pairs of running shoes here and the staff is always very knowledgeable and helpful. It really helps when the person helping you is an avid runner themselves. Based on recommendations, I went from my trusty Asics gel to New Balance. When something works fine, why change? But hey, new year, new location and now New Balance! We'll see how these work out. Bonus: They were 30 bucks off. Street metered parking and I got lucky with free parking so I wanted to take advantage of this sunny day for a quick run/walk. (Let's be honest here.) They were very accommodating when I asked if I could go for a "stroll" on the Esplanade and come back to pick up my new shoes on the way back. Note: if you are signing up for a local race, please bring checks or cash. read more

Village Runner - Switching from Asics to New Balance - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Scott and Matt provided professional service when helping me select a pair of running shoes. They listened well and offered up several appropriate choices. This is exactly the value add a local business provides to a community. Well done and highly recommend this business. Thank you Scott and Matt! read more

Currently training for my first marathon and the staff here are always as nice and as encouraging/supportive as can be. I think I lucked out a little coming in yesterday when there were multiple employees around but I was asking about nagging knee pain I'd been having and they were able to pinpoint the pain to my patella, fit me for a patella strap, and figure out the right size for me, all within 5-10 minutes. Really, really appreciate the customer service and attentiveness here. I'll be back ASAP (hopefully just for gear and fun stuff rather than injury advice!). read more

The only place I shop for running shoes. Every single time I buy shoes here the staff are so knowledgeable. 30day return policy. Can't beat it. I come here every year for my annual running shoes. Every staff member watches me walk and analyzes which shoe would be good. Love them! Thanks for always being so helpful! read more

My mother and I went to Village Runner for new Hokas. The owner was so kind, patient and helpful which we really appreciated especially since we showed up not long before closing! My mom ended up having to return a pair of shoes because she didn't quite like the fit and the owner took them back without question and she was able to get the size she felt better in. This store will have our business for any athletic shoes we ever buy in the future! In fact my mom and aunt are driving down all the way from Santa Clarita today just to get new shoes today! read more

Village Runner is an awesome store. Customer service is excellent. Came here about a month ago per instructions from my physical therapist to get more supportive shoes for walking/ standing long hours that would also help me in my recovery from on-going back issues. Staff member Ricky greeted me warmly and did not make me feel lame for not being a "runner" and still seeking to get some great "running" shoes. He made excellent suggestions, had me try on several pairs and walk around in them, until I landed on the best fit for me (Hoka Arahi 6's), and even taught me how to tie a runner's knot, so I feel pretty cool now. Seriously Ricky is the best! I waited a month to write the review so I could make a comment about whether the shoes worked for me- they did! I wear them almost everyday. If you aren't a runner, and are in need of great shoes (and possibly some other athletic wear/ great socks), definitely check Village Runner out. I also realized (after the fact) that their slogan is "for runners and walkers" so don't feel intimidated to go if you are in fact, not a runner...yet! read more

Professional, premier customer service, top tier knowledge. All things essential to helping people. This location gets it right, you can tell they care deeply about their customers and helping people in their pursuit of running. Was having some pain from ill fitting shoes and received a full course on how to select the right shoes. They provided guidance on sizing, shape, fit, form and function. I am grateful to be running again. read more

Jerry is super sweet and helped me pick these gems out!! He was so kind and brought out several shoes for me to try on based on what I described I liked. He also helped me with resizing and some neat shoe-tying technique. I purchased other sauconys from Village Runner a few years ago and they served me well! Will definitely return here for my running needs! Thanks so much, Jerry and Village Runner Team read more

Village Runner - New sauconys - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

This place has always been my fave place to get my running shoes. A lot of runners come here. I got my first pair of official running shoes here, way back in 2015. When I was wearing a size 11 sneaker and they checked my feet and I'm really a size 12 1/2 running shoe, no wonder my feet always hurt lol. I been coming back since. They are involved in a lot of local races and also local fun runs and training runs. I'll always come back and support local businesses when I get a chance read more

Village Runner - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Just walked into this store to inquire about a light weight, long sleeve top for cold mornings. I was in a rush, sipping a bottle of water and putting on a face mask when I entered the store. I guess I didn't get the mask on quick enough for his liking because this wimpy looking bald guy basically showed me the hand about 15 feet away from him and demanded I put the mask on faster. Right now any adult who is concerned about covid should be vaccinated and I there's never an excuse for being rude. I guess some people have just never had any authority and this was his big moment! I will be spreading the bad word read more

True story: My bum knee took a turn for the worse several weeks ago. It got so bad that sometimes I had to use a cane. When I saw a lady about 90 who had the same cane as mine, it freaked me out. So I bought a super cool hand-carved old walking stick at Salvation Army, which made me feel a little bit happier. Meanwhile, I had been wearing worn-out, beat-up athletic shoes......so awful that they were a constant source of embarrassment. My reasoning: why buy new shoes when I can't run any more & can barely even walk? But one day I finally went to Village Runner for shoes. I even got two pairs, I was on a roll. First day I wore them my knee felt better. Second day, better still. A week later, pretty darn good & almost normal. The graphic nightmares about knee replacement surgeries have stopped. My walking stick is now a wall sculpture. Yes, I feel foolish. But in a good way. And wow, what a gorgeous day today for hiking! Got my first sunburn of 2012. read more

I had been looking for a really good pair of running shoes to walk miles and on cobblestones on my upcoming trip to Europe. I probably have tried 20 pairs of shoes. I went to the Village Runner and the gentleman there was extremely helpful - I should have gotten his name. I told him what I had tried on and why they weren't comfortable. He suggested something different and that I size up 1/2 size. They are perfect, and I am loving my new Aesics! I will definitely go here first next time I need shoes. read more

Having grown up in the South Bay I've shopped Village Runner for a LONG time. They are a fabulous local run shop which also sponsors various 5K/10K races. The staff is always friendly and helpful in getting you into the right shoes/equipment. My daughter is starting to run Cross Country in high school so we came here to get her outfitted. We happily made a big investment, and we got great service as always. The selection set is not huge, but they will go out of their way to order whatever you might need. I have always found that they have something that meets my needs. Make sure you support this great local business if you are looking for anything running related. read more

Village Runner - They are a South Bay friendly run shop. If you run track at a local high school, ask for a 10% discount. - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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I went in this store looking to buy the perfect running shoe to train for the LA Marathon. Upon walking in, two older gentlemen with a tall, runner's build smiled and welcomed me. I got right to the point, one of them sat me down and examined my shoe and my feet and offered 2 choices. I tried each of them on, he checked the sizing, and then he examined me walking in them and then running outside. One of them felt really good (Saucony Omni 12) but it was $120 and out of my price range, but I had mentioned that I was part of Club Ed's Running Group (a popular running group in the south bay) and he gave me a discount. Was very kind of him to do, and I ended up buying some socks and a bottle kit along with some energy gu's, and he gave me the gu's for free. He was also very helpful in giving me some running tips on my form. I've been to the manhattan beach store before two times (bought shoes, shirts, shorts, compressions there) and they were cool there too, but this store was much better because of the service. I like the store layout better too. I'll def be back when I need to buy new running gear. read more

This running shoe store rocks! The vibe,the energy and the service of the people when I went was amazing. We came here to purchase our bibs for the July 4th Race Event and the signing in process was super quick. When I forgot my keys,they kept it in a safe place! Staff on the phone were very polite. Well,I will purchase my next pair here! read more

So I want to become a runner and thought what a better place to go but the Village Runner to see what I need to do. I know what you are thinking...just run you don't need Runner's For Dummies but...actually I do. So I came in to the store here and the gentleman working there (he may be the owner) offered some advice about a book that would help walk me through running. As I was looking around he was helping a lady buy some running shoes. What was impressive is that he had her try them on and had her walk to see if she walked well in them. I guess some shoes may be great for one person but depending on how you walk you may need a different type. I asked him if the shoes I was wearing was proper for running and he looked down and said, "I see you have a high instep so those shoes are the type you should wear" and yes I do have a high instep. I was impressed especially because he could have lied and insisted I needed to buy a new pair of shoes. read more

Village Runner - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Haven't been here since high school and regret not buying more from here! Village runner is a store for runners. It's a small store in Redondo Beach. There's parking in front of the store but it's metered parking. 50 cents got me 20 minutes I believe. I was surprised they have asics shoes here, it's my favorite brand for running shoes. I came in because my pair of running shoe was irritating my ankle bone and caused chafing and I bled while running. I went in to see if they can help me and suggested higher socks. I bought a pair of socks for $12 which was quite expensive but service was great. I also asked if they had spandex and that guy knew exactly what I was asking for and grabbed a perfect one for me. Definitely coming back here for my running clothes and shoes. Downside is that they don't have varieties of products because it's a small store. They sell GPS watches as well! read more

Seriously the best place in the area for runners. - Shoes - Gear - Clothes You can sign up for a lot of races, events here...the staff is super, super nice (and is so at both Village Runner locations). They have a very comprehensive selection of running shoes, and if they have to, they will special order for you at no additional charge. Great place to gear up, get advice, and help you get out and run. ENJOY! read more

I walked in looking for a specific color of Hoka shoes and there was none on the display that we're all black like I was looking for. I then asked a bald man that was working there if he had any other colors and the man told me "no" as he was helping another gentleman to some all black hoka shoes. So I then asked "well where'd he get those" and he pointed to the clearance sarcastically like I should have known that? Then I proceded to ask if they had a size 10.5/11 and he said "we don't have either in black those sizes". So I then asked to try on a 10 1/2 and 11 of a different color so I could maybe order them online in the correct size and he said well "that doesn't benefit me at all" and proceeded to walk away and restock shelves. He passive aggressively told me no and was very rude my whole experience inside the Village Runner. I will never be going back. read more

These guys are good! I came into village runner with no idea what kind of shoe I needed or wanted. I was used to running in whatever pair of shoes I had that were general "athletic shoes." As I started running more I was experiencing knee and back pain. Someone told me I needed to have the proper pair of shoes and referred me to Village Runner. They examined the way I walk and asked about the type of running I am doing. Then they had me try on multiple pairs of shoes until I found the ones that were like running on a cloud. They also have a policy that you can try them for 30 days and if you don't like them you can bring them back until you find the right shoe. They hit the nail on the head and I couldn't be happier. read more

They were fantastic! Very knowledgeable and helpful. Perfect fit. I would definitely recommend them to my friends.

2 stars because I got my $100+ shoes for like $50 on sale. Also, the ladies who work here are super sweet and helpful. The guy was unnecessarily rude. At first I didn't think anything of it, as I have lived in the SoBay all my life and a lot of the dudes around here are dickish for no apparent reason. Then I saw him interact with two other customers - not necessarily in a friendly manner, however without the same level of absolute hostility he displayed toward me. I suspect I know the reason, and it has to do with my physical appearance. Whatever, I got the exact shoes I wanted at the right price - I needed some other things, like Oofos and socks, but will opt to buy them elsewhere :) read more

Great place to find shoes that meet your needs. Bob is great and knows his stuff. He took the time to analyze my gait, learn about my running needs and provide a great fitting shoe...and it really wasn't more expensive than if I had purchased the shoes elsewhere. Even if you're not planning to run a marathon any time soon and just want a sneaker that fits well for your evening walks...go here! read more

I buy all my running stuff from Village Runner...they're the best!!! ...also they organize the Riviera Village runs (4th of July, St Patrick's Day, etc)...check them out! read more

This place is amazing! My husband and I found this place based on yelp reviews for Torrance. We went and were greeted at the door immediately. Both of us were told to take our shoes off and walk down the aisle so our walking styles could be identified. The man working there was soooo nice! My husband was going to wait on his shoes, but he decided to try a bunch on while he was there. The associate was kind and helped pick shoes best designed for our feet. He even stayed a few minutes late because we took a little longer than expected :( To be brief, this place is great. Tons of shoes to select from. There were plenty of styles made for a lesser shoe budget and customer service here is outstanding! I wish I could get this kind of customer service at most places I go to... :) read more

gotta love the 'mom and pop shops', and the village runner is one of em. every person who works there is so super knowledgable about their shoe inventory. they can also evaluate how you walk/jog/run to help you choose which shoe is right for you. recently, my sneakers mysteriously disappeared from our front deck(?!), so i had to unexpectedly replace my shoes. lucky for me, they were having a sidewalk sale. i scored a pair of saucony runners for $69. SUCH a deal! V.R. also sponsors 5K/10K races which are so fun and include great courses. plus, not only are your registration dollars going to a good cause, but you'll get a great tee. in a nutshell, V.R. offers personable service, great selection, and invaluable knowledge you don't get at a 'big box' store. read more

Village Runner - my new sneaks...$69! - Sports Wear Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Can't miss with Village Runner. I've been coming here since high school, and my dad shops here as well. They might not have 40 brands of shoes on sale like bigger stores, but they sell what works and what's more important - they know what they're doing. When you walk in the store, you're approached by *runners*, not some high school student working the shoe department at a sports shop. They take time looking at your gait, the pronation of your feet, etc. The clothing and gear they sell is also top notch. They also have races in town that are awesome and well organized - you can sign up right in the store. I prefer to support local businesses and events, and the Village Runner is the only way to go for running needs. read more

This store is well worth the extra $10-20 you pay for the shoes. The service is nothing like we see now these days! Great job Village Runner! read more

I needed a new pair of running shoes, but I don't enjoy shopping. So when I realized I needed a new pair of kicks, I was really pleased to remember Village Runner, an independent running store in the Riviera Village I had never been to before. Even better, I was out on a walk at the time. I could have used some new shoes right then and there. So I headed to Village Runner. When I go into stores, I like to get in and out as quickly as possible. Shopping, like I said, is just not my thing. So the size of Village Runner is perfect, and when it's an independent store able to afford that kind of retail rent, I know that there's going to be a non-overwhelming selection of quality merchandise to choose from. And that was just the case. They didn't have the wide-mouthed water bottles I was looking for, but when I asked the clerk to leave me to my devices to choose a running shoe, he obliged. I'm a woman who knows what she wants, so I briefly considered three pairs with colors and prices I liked, and then asked the clerk which one had the most cushioning. He got me a pair of the cushioniest ones in my size, I tried them on, I decided I wanted them and kept them on, paid for them, discarded my old sneaks, and I was out of there. What made it even faster was that the clerk had each shoe ready for you to try on, instead of making you pull out tissue and cardboard and lace everything up, like at mall stores. It was kind of a luxury. I swear I was in there for less than two minutes. If you're not a shopper and you need some exercise gear, check out Village Runner. Quality stuff for quick. read more

The staff here certainly know what they're doing, is all I can say. I received good advice and an excellent pair of shoes which lasted me a long time when I last purchased from there. They (the staff) aren't pushy and don't try to make a hard sell. There's a wide selection of shoes and running attire available. If you're looking to buy a nice pair of shoes from people who care about running, I'd recommend this place. read more

MUST BE A RECORD!!! I bought a pair of running shoes three weeks ago. I put a little over 20 miles on them when I had a problem. I drove back to Village Runner and pulled up to the storefront, I put 30 cents in the metered parking spot which gave me 12 minutes. I went in and described the problem I had with the shoes. I was offered a refund or replacement, I chose to replace. I tried the new ones on and trotted up and down outside the store, boxed them up,signed the receipt and left AND the meter was still green. TRY THAT AT A SUPERSTORE. read more

Good thing I just got into running, because I am running far far away from this place in shoes that I bought (for less) at their competitor! I visited the shop today with the intention of purchasing the Nike Zoom Tempo Next trainers. The sales associate brought them out in my size and the minute I tied the laces and got up to walk around he snapped at me very rudely and told me that I'm not allowed to take a step in them because "they're $200 shoes". I asked him if there was a seamless paper he could roll out on the floor to avoid scuffing the bottom of the shoes and he just said no. He offered no solution to this very bizarre policy, but just kept repeating "they're $200 shoes I can't let you walk around in them". First of all, $200 isn't that much for a pair of good running shoes. Secondly, there are literally dozens of other running stores that sell way more expensive shoes and even have treadmills in the store for customers to try the shoes on. I've gotten less attitude at the Supreme store when purchasing $1400 trainers. I got the impression that he didn't think I was good enough to walk around in the shoes because I don't "look like a runner". I felt that the entire customer experience was hostile, rude, and discriminatory. I went straight over to Dick's where they had the exact same shoe, on sale. So thank you for saving me money. read more

Fantastic service with expert advice and zero pushing or persuasion. He was kind to my 5 year old and considerate of my needs. I'm not an elite runner but that did not matter. I'll be back for all my running needs. read more

The Village Runner is a great store with friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff. They have everything that a runner needs, no more, no less. Prices are reasonable too. A large selection of shoes is available. They will analyze your foot type and stride to make sure you have the best shoes for your type. They don't push a sale, if you don't like a pair of shoes they won't give you a hard time about it. And they also don't always push the most expensive styles. It's clear that they care about what you want. They have a decent selection of running apparel and accessories too. They have a large selection of running socks too, which is pretty important if you are a runner who plans on doing big mileage (I recommend the Asics with the checkered top, sorry I don't know the exact name). If they don't have something that you want, the staff is always happy to get out the catalogs and order you something to your liking. I once had a need for a specific jersey for a half-marathon I was doing and I couldn't find it in any athletic store. The Village Runner ordered it and I had it in a couple days. It's now the only Running Store I go to. read more

Came here after experiencing poor service at Road Runner Sports. The guy at that place didn't even look at my feet or how I walked and recommended shoes without having any idea of what would work with my feet. I saw the great reviews for Village Runner so gave it a try. The guy working there (a manager) was so helpful and friendly. Most importantly, he provided excellent customer service. He had me take off my shoes so he could see how I walk and what shoe would be the best fit for me. He had me try a couple of pairs and run outside with them. When I picked the one I wanted, they were out of the color I liked so he called the Manhattan Beach store and had them hold a pair for me. A very satisfying experience, and now they have another loyal customer. Goodbye Road Runner, hello Village Runner! read more

The village runner is great! I have bought my last 2 or 3 pairs of running shoes from here and have never been disappointed! They even let you go for a test run on the street before you buy them to make sure that the shoe actually works well with your foot and the rest or your body! It was also the only place in the South Bay that I could find the pink and gray Nike Free's that my wife wanted for her birthday! Can't wait to go back and get a pair for myself! read more

When a time when online is the rage, nothing beats good old advice from an expert when buying running shoes. Great people and THANKS Darrin for your time and suggestions. read more