Fleet Feet Chicago was founded in 1996 by Dave and Lisa Zimmer, a local couple with a huge passion for running. Neither had previous retail experience (Dave was in finance, Lisa in marketing), but they understood the transformational power of lacing-up a pair of sneakers. Both quit their jobs to pursue a shared passion, soon opening Chicago’s first Fleet Feet storefront on North Avenue. Today, Fleet Feet Chicago has grown to seven stores across Chicagoland, and is the highest grossing franchise in the 190-store collection. Their impact on the local running community is unparalleled, evident by the Zimmers’ personal philosophy they infuse in every customer touchpoint. “We live by a simple belief: Running Changes Everything,” says Dave Zimmer. “It’s more than a motto, it’s something we live every day and believe wholeheartedly. From the customers and communities we serve, to the organizations we are then able to support, running has the power to change lives.”