DALLAS (BRAIN) — Playtri Franchising LLC, a Dallas-based retailer and franchiser, has acquired Endurance House International LLC, a Madison, Wisconsin-based franchiser.
Playtri was launched as a coaching company in 2000 and later opened five stores in the Dallas area. It announced in January 2017 that it was selling franchises; the first franchise opened in May last year in North Fort Worth; there are now seven locations in total.
Endurance House was founded in 2006 and began franchising in 2012. Today Endurance House operates 12 stores in nine states with another location opening soon. Two of its franchise locations closed this spring, one in Florida and one in Southern California. Endurance House founders Jamie and Tara Osborn will remain with the Playtri leadership team.
Playtri said the acquisition "will combine two powerhouses in the world of triathlon retailing into the largest chain of triathlon-focused retail locations in the nation, with 18 locations in nine states."
Playtri 's founders are the husband and wife team of Ahmed Zaher and Staci Brode. Zaher is a former member of the Egyptian Olympic swim team and 8-time Hawaii Ironman finisher. Trained as a mechanical engineer, Zaher has extensive experience as a Shell and Exxon franchisee. Brode holds a Marketing and Business Honors degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
The CEO of Playtri Franchising is Stephan Brown, an experienced senior executive in the consumer products industry. Brown has competed as an age group triathlete for 32 years and owns the Playtri franchise location in Colleyville, Texas.
Brown said, "Playtri Franchising LLC plans to actively expand; with the goal of operating in all 50 U.S. states; training and equipping athletes to reach their fitness goals in the most well-rounded athletic endeavor ever conceived."
Brown said current Endurance House locations will not be re-branded, but that all new locations will be under the Playtri name.
