The new, 5,000-square-foot store will be located on Route 31 across from the Great Northern Mall. It'll be in the plaza with Staples and Pier 1 Imports, said Ed Griffin, who co-owns the franchised store with his wife Ellen.

The couple first opened in 2000 in a spot on Erie Boulevard and moved to a larger, 10,000-square-foot location on Bridge Street in DeWitt three years ago.

Fleet Feet is a regular destination for local runners. The shop, which specializes in running shoes and other athletic apparel, already has a customer base near the Route 31 retail corridor, Griffin said.

The business has been seeing strong sales from Baldwinsville, Liverpool, Clay and Cicero.

"We know where are customers are coming from," Griffin said. "It just warrants having a store up there."

Work on the Clay store should start by mid-August and the location should be open by Nov. 1.

Fleet Feet currently employs 45 people and will hire another five to eight for the new shop.

The business is also expanding its product line, Griffin said. About two weeks ago, the retailer started carrying casual footwear from Keen and Merrell.

About half of Fleet Feet's customers aren't runners, Griffin said. They come in through medical referrals with foot problems that require top shoes and professional fitting.

Those people have been asking for options beyond athletic footwear for years. All the new styles are wide enough to fit custom orthotics and foot other inserts, Griffin added.

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