Jan. 15, 2024

An entrepreneur who began his career in the shoe industry early is the new owner of all Fit My Feet locations as well as Runner’s Block.

Owen Perry acquired the businesses from founder Nick Kolterman late last year.

Perry, a Rapid City native, began working in the shoe industry as soon as he was old enough to work.

“I started and applied when I was 15, and the manager couldn’t hire me until I was 16,” he said.

He began work at a Tradehome Shoes location in Rapid City the day after his birthday.

“I got hooked,” Perry said. “Through high school, I rodeoed and played sports, and I ventured into other things, and I always came back to shoes. I know them well. I have a drive for helping people walk better, and it just makes sense to me how the business operates.”

In 2020, when he was 18, he began working at Fit My Feet and relocated to Sioux Falls. In 2022, he moved back to Rapid City to open a Fit My Feet store and became a partner in that location.

“And then, the opportunity arose for me to buy everything,” he said.

Kolterman founded Fit My Feet Orthotics & Shoes in 2012 in Sioux Falls and grew it to rank among the nation’s fastest-growing businesses, making the Inc. 5000 list. It has six locations in three states. In 2022, Kolterman bought Runner’s Block from founder Rob Huber.

Runner’s Block also has a new location, opening recently at 2700 W. 41st St. with a move out of The Empire Mall.

“It’s a really nice store,” Perry said. “They really did a good job of redoing it and making it look modern and new.”

Perry’s vision is to differentiate the two brands more.

“Runner’s Block is 100 percent a run specialty store, where at Fit My Feet we do everything.”

Otherwise, there are no major changes planned, he said.

“Just getting back into the realm of a sit-and-fit shoe store, getting customers in and having professionals in the store. Having more expertise on staff and a better inventory is my goal.”

There are about 47 employees companywide, including Perry’s former manager from his first job in the industry, who is a vice president at Fit My Feet.

“We actually have a full staff, so I’m very fortunate. I have great people working for me,” Perry said, adding that he and his family ultimately plan to relocate to Sioux Falls.