Fleet Feet Opens Fifth San Antonio Location

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, and CARRBORO, N.C. (June 15, 2026) — Fleet Feet, the nation’s largest franchisor with more than 285 locally owned and operated running specialty stores, today announced the opening of a fifth Fleet Feet San Antonio location in Stone Ridge Market,  21019 U.S. Hwy 281 N, Suite 808. The store is operated by Kim Heather, operating partner of Fleet Feet San Antonio since 2024.

About Kim Heather

Heather joined Fleet Feet as an outfitter in Chicago, where the Fleet Feet community became an integral part of her life. Heather advanced through various roles including store manager, area manager and HR director. In 2024, she relocated to San Antonio where she oversees operations at the Quarry, Rim, Forum and Culebra locations.

“When I started at Fleet Feet, I fell in love with the store, the brand and the community,” said Heather. “It’s been wonderful to see Fleet Feet’s impact on runners and walkers in San Antonio, a city home to countless run clubs and races.”

The opening reflects continual, sustained growth in San Antonio’s running community. According to Axios, the 2025 San Antonio Marathon sold out all distances, with locals accounting for 64% of total runners.

Over the last two years under Heather, Fleet Feet San Antonio has developed a partnership with the San Antonio Marathon and introduced a reimagined Fleet Feet event for The Big Run 5K. Bringing her prior experience, she has expanded and grown Fleet Feet’s training programs, offering everything from beginner 5K training to extensive SATX marathon preparation

Grand Opening and Product Offerings

The Fleet Feet in Stone Ridge Market will open June 15, with a grand opening celebration planned for July 11 and 12. The store will also offer a social run and walk group for the surrounding community.

Shoppers will find top brands such as Brooks, HOKA, Asics, adidas, Nike, New Balance, Saucony and more, plus experience Fleet Feet’s fit id® outfitting process, which uses a 3D foot scan to measure foot length, width, volume, and arch height to match runners with the appropriate gear for their stride.

“San Antonio has become one of the most active and engaged running markets in the country, and our growth here reflects that momentum,” said Jason Jabaut, chief operating officer at Fleet Feet. “Each new store becomes a local hub where runners connect, train together and engage with each other. Kim has done an incredible job building that kind of trust across the existing stores, and this new location extends that same support to even more people.”

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About Fleet Feet
Founded in 1976, Fleet Feet is the largest franchisor of locally owned and operated specialty run stores. With more than 285 Fleet Feet stores in 40 states and a national headquarters in Carrboro, North Carolina, Fleet Feet is committed to providing runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts with outfitting expertise, robust training programs, community support and rewards.

Fleet Feet believes that Running Changes Everything® and has been recognized in Fast Company’s Brands That Matter, the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies and Best in Business, Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Retailers and America’s Best Online Shops, and PRWeek’s Purpose Awards. Stay inspired, motivated and connected at Fleet Feet.

Heath Riles BBQ Wins Back-to-Back Memphis in May Grand Championships

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (June 12, 2026) – Heath Riles BBQ has made history at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, becoming the first team in 42 years to win back-to-back Grand Champion titles. The milestone places the highly respected pitmaster and entrepreneur Heath Riles in rare company within competitive barbecue. Riles is one of the few elite competition pitmasters whose award-winning recipes are available as a nationally distributed retail line of seasonings, rubs, sauces and glazes for home cooks and competitors.

The repeat Grand Championship extends an already dominant Memphis in May legacy with four Rib category wins in the last five years, cementing Riles as one of the sport’s most consistent competitors.

“To win Memphis in May once is a career-defining moment,” said Heath Riles, founder of Heath Riles BBQ. “To come back and do it again, especially after 42 years without a repeat Grand Champion, is hard to put into words. It took a lot of years and competitions to get here, and I’m proud to represent the competition barbecue community and everyone who cooks with our products at home.”

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious barbecue competitions in the world, drawing top teams from across the country to compete in a city deeply tied to American barbecue culture.

Riles launched Heath Riles BBQ in 2016 and has spent years translating award-winning flavor profiles into approachable products and recipes for home cooks. Today, the brand has grown into a nationally recognized line of seasonings, sauces, rubs and glazes available through major national retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Ace Hardware, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Lowe’s, and direct-to-consumer at HeathRilesBBQ.com.

“Champions are often known for what they win, but Heath is equally known for what he gives back,” said John Helm, director of sales and business insight for Heath Riles BBQ. “His willingness to openly share recipes, techniques, and competition-proven methods has earned the trust of cooks across the country and helped strengthen the BBQ community far beyond the awards stage.”

About Heath Riles BBQ

Heath Riles BBQ is a championship barbecue brand founded by pitmaster Heath Riles, the first back-to-back winner of the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in 42 years. Known for award-winning competition results and a highly successful line of seasonings, sauces, rubs and glazes, Heath Riles BBQ helps home cooks and competitors create bold, consistent barbecue flavor. Heath Riles BBQ seasonings, rubs, sauces and glazes are available nationally at Walmart, Kroger, Ace Hardware, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Lowe’s, and direct at HeathRilesBBQ.com.

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GEAR ENVIE LANDS PATENT FOR INNOVATIVE HIKAS®️ GAITER

The Berkshires, Mass. (April 2, 2026) Gear Envie, the outdoor accessories company founded by a mother– daughter duo of adventurers, is thrilled to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office officially issued a patent protecting the company’s groundbreaking Hikas® gaiter design. This milestone underscores Gear Envie’s commitment to designing modern, performance-driven gear and accessories.

“As a mother-daughter team, we draw from generations of apparel design experience,” says Jody Canavan, CEO and co-founder. “Our goal is to use contemporary textile science to rethink the gear that makes outdoor life better for all people—and we started with the humble gaiter.”

Hikas® are modern gaiters designed to protect your legs, ankles, and feet from the hazards of the trail. They have quickly gained a following among hikers, walkers, and everyday outdoor enthusiasts for their fresh take on an outdoor essential. Unlike traditional gaiters, Hikas® are featherweight, water-resistant cuffs designed to be worn inside footwear rather than over it. They comfortably compress inside the shoe and expand over the top to create a protective barrier that keeps out dirt, sand, rocks, snow, and even ticks.

Engineered with a one-size, patent‑protected design, Hikas® make gearing up effortless: simply choose a color and go.

The newly issued patent marks a significant step in Gear Envie’s continued growth and validates the team’s vision for a simple yet transformative piece of gear that enhances comfort, versatility, and enjoyment outdoors.

“Hikas are the result of years of design iterations, in-the-field testing, and listening to our community,” says Amy Maugeri, creative director and co-founder. “While our intent was to solve common frustrations with a centuries-old product in its traditional setting, our customers have shown us just how game-changing they actually are both on and off the trail. We’re thrilled to protect the innovation behind them as we continue to grow.”

Hikas® are available at various independent retailers, online partners, and specialty outdoor shops nationwide, and online at gearenvie.com.

About Gear Envie

Gear Envie designs and develops performance‑driven accessories for people on the move. Grounded in generations of construction design experience and built on principles of performance, sustainability, and style, Gear Envie products are a fresh expression of modern outdoor life. For more information, visit gearenvie.com.

Media Contact

Jody Canavan
Gear Envie CEO and Co-Founder
jody@gearenvie.com

FLEKS FOOTWEAR SAN YSIDRO SLIDE SELECTED AS ONE OF OPRAH’S FAVORITE THINGS 2025

Fleks Footwear announced today that the San Ysidro Slide is included in the 2025 Oprah’s Favorite Things holiday gifts list featured on OprahDaily.com and in Oprah Daily’s special print 2025 Holiday Edition, on newsstands nationwide on November 11.

The San Ysidro Slide will be available for purchase at fleksfootwear.com, and on OprahDaily.com https://www.oprahdaily.com/oprahs-favorite-things-2025.

As Oprah says on OprahDaily.com, “This comfy slide is made from soft leather and even softer shearling that, because of subtle flaws, would otherwise end up in landfills. They’re stylish, sustainable, and, thanks to the sculpted arch that offers support, beyond comfortable.”

To shop Oprah’s Favorite Things this year, readers can also use Oprah Daily’s brand-new Gift Finder, presented by Snapdragon. This AI-assisted search tool helps people discover the best gift ideas based on who they’re shopping for, sifting through hundreds of Oprah Daily’s gift recommendations—including past Favorite Things—offering spot-on suggestions for everyone on your list.

Oprah’s Favorite Things list is a must-have holiday shopping guide that features the most ingenious gadgets, fashionable sustainable goods, decadent desserts and the finest finds in home, fashion, and beauty. For nearly 30 years, the brand has showcased must-give gifts for the holidays, often serving as a launch pad for small businesses and highlighting the inspiring stories of the owners behind the products. 60% of the items on the 2025 OFT List are selected from small businesses.

Fleks Footwear is motivated by a responsibility to improve the footwear industry, proving that sustainability and performance can, and should, go hand-in-hand. The San Ysidro Slide (MSRP $120) makes the perfect fashionable, sustainably derived gift for any season, featuring Fleks’ signature state-of-the-art comfy FLEKSfoam. The lux leather sockliner and strap made of the softest shearling are both made from character leathers, referring to the subtle, natural marks that animal hides carry which are often rejected by big brands, leaving these pieces to waste away in warehouses or landfills. Fleks turns them into luxuriously comfortable, long-lasting shoes. The San Ysidro Slide comes in eight fabulous colors and is available in whole sizes, women’s 5 – 12/men’s 4 – 11. Additional features include:

  • Upper: Genuine sheepskin
  • Midsole: Fleks’ signature ergonomically sculpted midsole offers the trifecta of comfort – heel cup to help lock foot in place, sculpted arch that offers support, and toe bar to help keep your foot from sliding forward.
  • Outsole: Signature FleksWave recycled EVA

Oprah Daily’s special print 2025 Holiday Edition featuring the San Ysidro Slide on the 2025 Oprah’s Favorite Things List hits newsstands nationwide on November 11.

ABOUT FLEKS FOOTWEAR
Fleks Footwear was founded in 2024 by footwear veteran Leah Larson and launched the East Beach Slide in March of that year. The company is committed to revolutionizing the footwear industry by proving that high performance and sustainability can go hand in hand. They are dedicated to tackling environmental challenges caused by foam manufacturing and constantly working hard at creating a cleaner, greener future. Not perfect, just better. Visit Fleks online at www.fleksfootwear.com and on Instagram at @fleksfootwear.

 

For Fleks Footwear press inquiries, please contact: July Zaleski, JAM Collective, july@jamcollective.net

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