As Boylston Street Reopens, Marathon Sports Still Remains Dark

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

An outpouring of foot traffic today marks the reopening of Boylston Street after more than a week-long takeover as an FBI and BPD crime scene. Business owners flocked to their abandoned storefronts—The Tannery and New Balance among them—but still one essential shop remained dark. At the epicenter of the first blast site, Marathon Sports is boarded up and tackling a lengthy to-do list of repairs.

Few retail spots fared significant damage beyond some misplaced sign letters, as is the case with The Tannery. However, Marathon Sports and its neighbor Lens Crafters suffered blown-out windows on top of emotional wounds (like those of employee Dan Soleau when Marathon Sports essentially became a triage) that will take longer to heal than simply replacing concrete sidewalk panels and steam-cleaning debris-stained carpets.

A sign in the front window of the store reads "Boston Strong," a reminder to those passing by that sums up the citywide sentiment "We all stand as one, and we will run again." As CEO Colin Peddie says in an emotionally charged statement, "The healing has begun." Once the fresh concrete dries and all the metal barriers have been carried away, we are sure the Boylston Street store will have a line of runners waiting for its renowned gait assessment and new kicks.
· Our Sincere Thanks [Marathon Sports]
· Colin Peddie: The Healing Has Begun [Competitor]
· Marathon Sports Employee Details Horror Of Boston Bombings [CBS]
· Local Retailers Continue Fundraising for Victims [Racked Boston]