1379 Athletic Wear for Active Kids
July 7, 2009 by Julia
Filed under Austin (central), Austin Metro, reviews, stores and products
Next to Over the Rainbow toy store on Exposition in Tarrytown, we found 1379 Athletic Wear for Active Kids. Ever the curious bunch, the kids and I popped into this small shop, about the size of GAP Kids, to see what they had to offer. We were greeted warmly, and my toddler immediately spotted the floor sample plasma car upon entering and insisted that he hop on for a ride. As he clumsily maneuvered the plasma car, the preschooler and I looked at the sports clothing on the shelves.
Hubby is forever trying to convince the preschooler that she will someday run with him (not strolled) in many 5K events around town, and should that day ever arrive, I know just the place to come and pick up some true athletic gear for my kid. Not that children cannot run and play in regular street clothes, but any child who may wish to pursue sports as a serious hobby who may need quality athletic clothing should take a look at this store. Most of the big box places and even stores like REI and Run-Tex do not specialize in children’s active wear so often the inventory is not nearly as extensive if at all. Everything in the inventory was top quality, and the prices were not inflated. Because I have a very petite child who will likely stay petite, I foresee in the future having problems finding clothing to fit her physical size that also matches “the look” of her chronological age so I appreciate boutiques like this. The styles carried are smaller versions of adult athletic wear but with touches of fun that are still appropriate for youth. I think even a petite adult could probably comfortably shop at this store for the clothes. 1379 carries sizes for toddlers through teens.
We made our way to the back of the store, and like the clothing, they carried only quality athletic shoes for kids (and petite adults). The choice is not quite as extensive as Sandy’s Shoes, but that is only because there were no dress shoes to be found here. My older one was in need of new tennis shoes anyhow so I took a peek at the prices first before even bothering to be measured. (They use a floor sizing mat as opposed to one of those metal contraptions.) To my surprise, the Saucony Kids shoe that my kid liked cost less than the average shoe at Stride Rite and Sandy’s, where we are often forced to shop to find narrow shoes. The exact shoe was even $10 less than Zappos! Rock on. Like Sandy’s Shoes, the staff were knowledgeable about shoe fit, and they were able to get my kid into something pink and narrow. (Narrow is nearly impossible to find in toddler sizes. Most children’s shoes if sold in alternate sizes are wide.) The younger one was happy to hop off the plasma car to trade off for one of the toys in the shoe area which kept him occupied for me to pay attention to the older one.
At checkout, I asked what the 1379 meant. The lady pointed to the framed jerseys on the wall and said that the owners played volleyball (#13) and football (#79) at Notre Dame. The cash wrap area has metal sheeting covered with all kinds of magnets which entertained the toddler long enough for me to pay for the shoes without having to chase him down. I was also told that if we should ever need anything (clothing, shoes, jogging strollers, etc) which is not carried in the store, they would be more than happy to special order for us. I will keep that in mind.
What an unexpected find! I am very glad to have wandered into 1379 and to have this as another option for kid boutiques in town.
1379 will be participating in the “Speak up for Kids CASA” 5K run on September 20, 2009 from 8 am to noon at The Domain in north Austin. We participated in this event a couple of years ago, and it was an easy 5K “run” with the kid and stroller. To register for this event, click on the registration link at the bottom of the Run-Tex website. From the 1379 calendar of events:
“Join us for CASA of Travis County’s 4th Annual Speak Up for Kids CASA 5K! The day will include a 5K and a kids’ 1K, plus exciting activities, goodie bags, t-shirts and more. Come out and Speak Up for CASA of Travis County at this great family event. Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. http://www.casatravis.org/CASA5K.aspx”
1379 Athletic Wear for Active Kids
2727 Exposition Blvd.
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 474-1379
Store hours:
Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am-7:00pm
Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
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