JackRabbit gets a visit from NYTimes

New York Times Critical Shopper, Mike Albo, stopped into JackRabbit Union Square. Here is some of what he had to say:

"JackRabbit, the insistently back-to-basics and refreshingly steroid-free multisports store, is trying to strip away the layers of hype, Myoplex and filigree that weigh down the zillion-dollar-a-year industry. The store concentrates on providing functional clothes and equipment but still knows that its patrons want to look kind of cool. Being in a fashion capital, I guess you could say it is one of the first sports outfitters to 'edit.'

...

JackRabbit's message is what our P.E. teachers should have told us from the very beginning: being athletic doesn't mean you have to be an overcompetitive jerk. I wish I had come here for gym class. 

VIBE -- A sports authority without the stadium rage, welcoming all levels of fitness. 
SERVICE -- No product pushing. Knowledgeable staff members are not secret mouthpieces for the Man, and they stick to the store philosophy: buy what you need. 
FOCUS -- Personalized shoe consultations. (It gets crazy on the weekends; go on a weekday morning or after lunch to beat the crowd.) 
THE EXTRA MILE -- The store offers programs and classes, including a spring triathlon training programs."

Read more from NY Times Critical Shopper: "Because a Logo Is Not Enough"