Representatives of Runnings and the Canby community cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Canby Runnings store on Friday. Runnings moved from Canby’s downtown into a new 25,000 square-foot store building this summer. From left to right, the dignitaries included Hannah Meritt and Jason Anderson of the Canby Chamber of Commerce, Runnings owner Dennis Reed, Canby store manager Joe Bohne, owner Adele Reed, and president Brian Odegaard.

CANBY — It was a big day for one of Runnings’ earliest stores. On Friday morning, Runnings employees and Canby area residents celebrated the ribbon-cutting of a new 25,000 square-foot store in Canby.

“We are thrilled to have this new facility in Canby,” said Lisa Svobodny, director of marketing and e-commerce at Runnings. She said the new building offers plenty of space and an expanded selection of items for shoppers. The store expansion was “a sign of how the Canby community and Runnings have grown together,” she said.

Runnings has a unique history in Canby. Canby was the site of Runnings’ second store location, which opened in 1972, Svobodny said. Over time, the store expanded into three additional downtown buildings. But at 8,000 square feet of space, they were still cramped. “It was literally bursting at the seams,” Svobodny said.

Last year, Runnings announced it was constructing a new store building on nearly six acres of land on the north edge of Canby. The move to the new store started this summer, and the new location has been up and running since mid-August, Svobodny said.

“Customers have had a positive reaction,” she said.

It is still to be determined what will happen to the old Runnings locations in downtown Canby, Svobodny said.

Svobodny said having a bigger store space has allowed the Canby Runnings to expand its selection. For example, the new store has room for a sporting goods section, which includes fishing and other outdoor gear.

Svobodny said it was exciting to see how both the Canby community and Runnings have been thriving together, which allowed for growth. Runnings had also built community relationships in Canby, she said. One way that showed was in the variety of community organizations, from the nonprofit Canby 4 Kids to youth organizations like 4-H, that were taking part in the grand opening. Canby 4 Kids were serving hot dogs at the new Runnings on Friday.

Celebrations for the grand opening will continue through Sunday, at the new store on Fairgrounds Road East in Canby.