Running company opens first retail location in Costa Mesa

It’s a big weekend for outdoor events in Southern California. Orange County Marathon runners hit the pavement on Sunday morning. Ragnar Road, a 200-mile team trek from San Diego to Huntington Beach, started on Friday.

“We have a crazy weekend,” United Sports Brands marketing manager Marissa Buyck said. “It’s hopefully going to be this great influx of runners and people who live being outdoors.”

Runners have a new option in Costa Mesa.

Nathan Sports, a running apparel and accessories company that was acquired by United Sports Brand in 2015, opened its first retail location on 17th Street in Costa Mesa on Friday.

The company, which started in 1972, is most well-known for its hydration packs and vests. But it launched an apparel line last spring, which meant that a retail location made sense.

Nathan Sports is known for its hydration packs.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

The location is in the heart of Orange County, as well as close by the United Sports Brands corporate headquarters in Fountain Valley.

“Now we’re kind of an overall shop for runners, activewear, outdoor exploration,” Buyck said. “We thought, ‘We’ve learned so much about what it takes to equip people that are outdoors and working out a long time.’ So we went into apparel … and we wanted people to try it on. We want people to be able to feel the material, hold it up, make sure that the fit is dialed in. While we know online shopping is super-popular and people love the accessibility of that, there’s something about just seeing how it fits, especially when you’re buying a nice pair of performance apparel.”

Nathan Sports hopes to partner with a gym in its plaza, as well as with local running clubs, Buyck said. The clubs could start and finish their weekly runs at the store, with samples, demonstrations and merchandise discounts waiting for the runners as they completed the distance.

“Rather than trying to take over the community, we’re trying to blend with it,” she said.

Nathan Sports men’s athletic apparel and hydration bottles with carriers.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

United Sports Brands President and Chief Executive Michael Magerman visited the store in Costa Mesa on Wednesday morning and said he liked what he saw.

The store has the hydration packs and vests but is primarily a showcase for the apparel line. Many of the pieces are designed to be worn before or after — and not just during — a run.

“There are about 50 million runners in the United States, and many of them do other things too,” Magerman said.

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