Transports, a legacy shop for running and swimming gear in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, is staying open after all.
In April, The Oaklandside reported that Transports was permanently closing after 42 years due to the retirement of the owner, Beverly “Bev” Nakashima.
Transports, 6014 College Ave. Open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A little over a month after that story was published, longtime Transports employee Brian Lyons stepped up to take over the business as its new owner. Lyons, who lives in Pinole, had worked at Transports as a sales associate for nearly 10 years before assuming ownership on May 25.
Lyons told The Oaklandside that the time between preparing to shut down Transports and formally acquiring the business was roughly five weeks. “It’s been hectic,” he said. “I’m basically working seven days a week starting when I wake up, but that won’t be forever.”
Around early April, Nakashima sent an email to all Transports employees saying she was retiring and would be shutting down the store for good, according to Lyons.
“It was sudden news,” said Sarah Dever, who had worked at Transports for 13 years as a sales associate and is now the store manager. “We knew Bev was going to retire at some point, but she didn’t really hint at the timing.”
Over the subsequent two weeks, Transports was gearing up for closure. As the store held a closing sale from early April through late May, hordes of new and longtime customers stopped by to thank Transports staff and make a final purchase.
At first, Lyons wasn’t sure whether he had the financial means to buy Transports. But thanks to a combination of his life savings, small business credit cards, and some help from local lenders, he was able to keep the shop running.
“It’s a lot to take on because you’re basically in debt, but there are a lot of resources out there,” he said.
Dever said she started working at Transports as a UC Berkeley student training for her first marathon. Since then, she’s raced in nine marathons and met many longtime friends through Transports. She is now the shop’s longest-tenured employee.
“That’s one of the really great things about this place—we have been more like a family environment,” Dever said. “It’s not just a place you clock in and out and get through the day; it’s a place that people enjoy to work at and work with others.”
In fact, some employees who left Transports years ago decided to work at the shop again after hearing of Nakashima’s retirement. Lyons currently employs 12 people, half of whom are college students. Most Transports employees attended or are currently attending nearby schools, including Oakland Tech, Berkeley High, and Cal.
To this day, many past and current Transports employees gather for golf, barbecues, Christmas parties, and other social events. The four original owners of the shop still talk and grab dinner together, Nakashima told The Oaklandside.
It’s the tight-knit, community-centered atmosphere at Transports that has helped retain employees like Dever. “I’ve had an office job before and realized it’s just not for me,” she said. “This is just a better work environment … and I really enjoy being able to help other people achieve their fitness goals.”
Transports employees say the “personalized shopping experience” they provide to customers sets the small business apart from other sports gear retailers.
“It’s all about the human connection,” Dever added. “We listen to everyone’s individual story, their history of injuries, their fitness level, and tailor the experience to their needs.”
‘Run. Swim. Move.’
When Transports first opened in 1982, it sold only running gear. After Nakashima joined the team in 1985, the shop started selling swimming gear, adopting the slogan “Run. Swim.” Now, Lyons wants to change the store’s tagline to “Run. Swim. Move.”
By adding “move” to the tagline, Lyons wanted to underscore that Transports is not just for runners and swimmers but is inclusive of all abilities, fitness levels, and activities.
“Movement is really healing for anyone,” he said. “Whether it’s running, going for a walk in your neighborhood, yoga, or even deep breathing, anything is better than nothing.”
The shop is evolving in other ways to better serve the community’s needs. With pickleball exploding in popularity in recent years, Lyons said he began stocking tennis shoes at Transports and plans to collaborate with Courtside Tennis & Pickleball, the store next door, on events and promotions. As more people do their shopping online, Lyons said he plans to launch an online store for Transports in the coming months.
Transports will continue hosting events for the community, including weekly trail runs, which are announced every week in the store’s newsletter. Over the past few years, the business has partnered with local running clubs such as Running for a Better Oakland and Lake Merritt Joggers and Runners and has sponsored local events like the Oakland Marathon and school races.
“It’s not just buying products at a local store,” Dever said. “Investing in us means investing back into the community around you.”
