Tucson-based TriSports.com, a leading retailer in swim, bicycling and running products, will open a store in June in Tempe Gateway.
The retailer has signed a lease for 7,500 square feet on the first floor of the eight-story building at 222 S. Mill Ave.
Tempe Gateway was bought in June 2010 by Seattle-based Vulcan, a division of Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates.
This is the second location for TriSports.
“We knew expansion had to be a combination of the right time, the right location and the right people, and with Vulcan and the Tempe Gateway building, we have achieved that triad,” TriSports.com vice president Debbie Claggett said.
The new spot will provide the sports retailer with a prime spot near Tempe Town Lake, site of many triathlon and other athletic events.
Tempe Gateway is next to a light-rail stop and accessible to freeways.
TriSports.com, founded more than 11 years ago by Seton and Debbie Claggett, is involved with growing the triathlon sport through partnerships with clubs, teams and races.
Seton Claggett, a graduate student at the time, got the idea for the company in 1999 on a long ride near Tucson as he was training for his first Ironman. He had a difficult time finding a local source for triathlon equipment, so he decided to start an online store.
In April 2000, the company was launched out of the Claggetts’ house. The company occupies 32,000 square feet at 4495 S. Coach Drive in Tucson, a space that includes a retail store, warehouse, company headquarters and more than 50 employees.
Other tenants in Tempe Gateway include Limelight Networks, Parsons and Waste Management. In the TriSports.com lease, Vulcan Real Estate was represented by Summer Davis and Jon Cowen of Cushman & Wakefield. The retailer was represented by Bryan Babits of SRS Real Estate Partners.