Playtri Runs (Swims & Cycles, too) with Expansion Effort

Playtri’s triathlete-focused DFW locations (in Dallas and McKinney) added two more (Colleyville and Rockwall) this spring with plans to hit Austin, San Antonio, and Houston by next year before going national, first in Oklahoma and then in Colorado. Playtri owner Ahmed Zaher (here on a ride in Hawaii during a two-week trip there in January) tells us the goal of his expansion: allow triathletes access to a Playtri within 20 minutes from anywhere in the Metroplex. Ahmed said Playtri is about leading a healthy lifestyle through triathlon as a mainstream way of life. (Lifting bikes above your head is just a bonus.)

Colliers International VP Ward Richmond and associate Bryson Battle are working with Ahmed on the expansion. Ward and Ahmed used to be neighbors and Playtri has helped Ward prep for three Ironman triathlons and qualification for the US Age Group National Championships in 2013. (We did notice all the triathalon medals in the background. We have a softball trophy from when we were 12. That’s good, right?) 

We were going to write this story last week, but Ward chose to be with his wife, Gina, and the early arrival of baby girl, Betty Sue. Playtri is looking for 4,000 SF to 5,000 SF spaces with aggressive economics. The type of real estate varies, Ward says; the Dallas location is in a neighborhood center, while McKinney is in a mixed-use project, and Colleyville is in a small strip center. The retail piece is fairly new for Playtri, which has been in business for more than 10 years and is internationally recognized as one of the top triathlon training companies. About 18 months ago, Ward says landlords started calling them looking for a Playtri store in their centers.