Track Shack+ Hughes Family

ONE YEAR AFTER TRACK SHACK opened its doors in 1977, Jon Hughes became manager of the Orlando-based running store and soon after hired Betsy Mackenzie. Five years later, in 1983, Jon and Betsy married and purchased Track Shack from its founding partners. Over the last 40 years, the couple has transformed Track Shack into one of the nation’s model run specialty shops.

Chris Hughes, Jon and Betsy’s son and now an integral part of Track Shack management, discusses the elements driving Track Shack’s success under his parents’ leadership:

“While purchasing property is perhaps the most black-and-white business principle I learned from my parents, the long-term, sustained success of Track Shack is due far more to three intangibles: culture, community and continuity. Track Shack and Orlando’s running community grew together as one and the positive, supportive culture of that community is what my parents commit to providing at every single event we host as well as inside our store with our staff.

“The key to sustaining this – the continuity – is that my parents have remained deeply, personally involved and active with the business. They live in town, still attend and work at every event they can and jump on the floor to help customers. I could not have asked for better mentors in this great industry and in life.”