Running store sponsors nearly 40 races each year

| The State News Curt Munson, owner of Playmakers Athletic Footwear & Apparel, 2299 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, stands for a portrait overlooking the floor-space of his shop, which specializes in running shoes and other fitness apparel. The store also carries hiking shoes and Birkenstocks, among other items.

Name: Curt Munson, owner

Time with business: 24 years. The store used to be a chain, but it went out of business and Munson had the opportunity to buy it in 1981. It first opened in Meridian Mall, but moved to the Grand River Avenue location about two-and-a-half years ago.

Background: Munson grew up in Minnesota and went to college in South Dakota. He lived in South Bend and Ann Arbor, then settled in Okemos in 1981. His wife was a nursing instructor at MSU at the time but eventually started working with the store.

Education: Business degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1970.

Family: Wife Judy, daughter Lauren, 16, and son Patrick, 15.

Biggest part of the store's success: "The key is the staff, the people that really make the store what it is," Munson said. "They're pretty passionate about health and fitness, sports, the outdoors."

Many MSU students have worked at Playmakers and a number of them have gone on to do further work in the running industry.

Number of races per year: Playmakers sponsors about 30 to 40 running events each year. "We're involved," Munson said. He usually works at the events, but as someone who has been running his whole life, he participates in various Michigan races.

Types of shoes sold: Mostly athletic footwear, but also casual shoes such as Birkenstocks and sandals.

Other products: Playmakers sells a fair amount of apparel including brands such as The North Face, Patagonia and Under Armour.

Additional stores in Michigan: Munson owns two stores in Troy and one in Farmington Hills, all of which are New Balance stores, he said.

Free-time activities: Munson spends his free time running and at his teenagers' sports activities.

Best part of the business: "I've always been really passionate about sports and I really enjoy that part of the business," Munson adding, "and I guess the best part is just working with a great group of people."

Laura Leebove