Andy Stewart has owned and operated Finish Line Sports in Sugar Land for 30 years.[/caption]When Andy Stewart opened Finish Line Sports in 1985 in Sugar Land, his goal was to provide more than just running shoes and equipment to the community.
Stewart said he wanted to engage residents by offering local races they could participate in as well as find ways to give back to the community where he was raised.
After 30 years of owning and running Finish Line Sports, Stewart has been successful in expanding beyond the retail aspect of the business and into community outreach. Stewart hosts five annual races, coaches and prepares runners for various races and donates to 20 local and Houston charities.
"We were ground breaking in a lot of the stuff we did," he said. "I thought it would work because of how fun and enjoyable the races are and how much better people feel when they run."
The idea to open Finish Line Sports dawned on Stewart in 1981 after he graduated from Louisiana State University and moved back to Sugar Land. He said he saw a need for a sports equipment store in the city and running had long been a passion for him, so it made sense.
Finish Line Sports sells name-brand running and swimming clothing and accessories, such as Speedo, TYR Swimwear and Asics running shoes. The store began carrying Asics running shoes exclusively in 2000 as customer demand and preference for the brand grew, he said.
Stewart hosted the store's first community races after opening in 1985 with the Valentine's Relay and the Sugar Land Turkey Trot. While the Valentine's Relay was last held in 1995, the annual Turkey Trot race has become a Thanksgiving tradition for the Sugar Land community. The five-mile race celebrates its 30th anniversary in November and has continued to reel in a growing number of local and regional runners throughout its existence. The event attracted 300 runners in its first year, and in 2014 about 1,600 runners participated in the annual race, Stewart said.
"I cannot imagine Thanksgiving without the Turkey Trot because it is fun and is like a reunion for those who have not seen each other [in awhile]," he said.
Proceeds raised from each race hosted by Finish Line Sports directly benefit a local charity within Sugar Land and Fort Bend County. Stewart said his store is associated with 20 local charities, including the Fort Bend Rainbow Room, the Snow Drop Foundation and Bel Inizio.
As Finish Line Sports has added more races and events over the last three decades, Stewart said a growing demand for training courses and clinics also arose. Stewart works with Brian Watson, Finish Line Sports assistant director, to host six triathlon clinics each year, which includes training for swimming and running. The clinics also educates participant on race rules and guidelines.
"We try to educate [our clients] ahead of time so they are more confident and more prepared," Stewart said. "Without educating the folks, there is no telling what people would do."
Looking ahead, Stewart said he wants to continue to attract larger crowds to each race while continuing to give back to the community. He has no plans to retire in the near future and hopes to keep running Finish Line Sports until he is 70, he said.
"I am 57 years old so I have friends who have retired, and they are helping me here," Stewart said. "One of the reasons they are helping me is because it is fun. I feel like it is a part of me. It is a lifestyle, and it is something enjoyable."
