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Early History
The American Athletic Shoe Company was founded by Edward J. Urban in Ware, Massachusetts 1959. Mr. Urban had started out in the shoe manufacturing business after finishing his tour in the United States military. The company was called J.T Wood Company; this was where Mr. Urban learned everything there was to know about manufacturing shoes. After years of learning about different shoe materials, assembly stations and technology developments, Mr. Urban took this knowledge and decided to start his own company. His goal was to manufacture sport sneakers and ice skates.



American Athletic Shoe Co. Establishment
On October 28th, 1959 he opened the doors of his own business, American Athletic Shoe Company. This would be the home of American Athletic Shoe for the next 60 years and continues to be today. Within a few years of opening his doors, American Athletic Shoe Co. was at full steam ahead with 175 employees manufacturing, processing and selling ice skates, sporting cleats and sneakers. Years later Mr. Urban decided to make a shift in the company. He wanted to focus primarily on ice skates. He had found this to be his strong suit, so he decided to capitalize on it. Within focusing on the ice skate industry, Mr. Urban also chose to produce inline skates. This was perfect timing for the 80’s rollerblading fad, where American Athletic Shoe came out with their LAZEROLLER inline skates.

In 1999, Mr. Urban was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly after. The company continued to be family owned and was in desperate need for a new President. Paul M. Opalinski, Edward J, Urban’s nephew, decided to step up to the challenge. Mr. Opalinski had grown up right down the street from American Athletic and had worked at the factory every summer growing up. Mr. Urban had taught him everything he knew about making ice skates and shoes over the years so it seemed like the perfect fit for him to step in as President.

The Next Generation
The next coming years were very successful for American Athletic Shoe as the tech-boom hit in the early 2000’s. Mr. Opalinski joined the race to stay on top of the market and gave American Athletic a strong presence online. Since then American Athletic Shoe has continued to grow and is found on the websites of major retail stores around the nation. American Athletic Shoe has kept true to their core competency of making quality skates for skaters of recreation. In addition, selling them at affordable pricing so the common person can experience ice skating.

Rental Skates
In attempt to expand their offerings to the everyday person who wants to try ice skating, in 2007 American Athletic Shoe decided to expand into the rental skate market. Today, you will find American Athletics’ rental skates in some of the most popular and prestigious ice rinks around the world. American Athletic Shoe Co. has continued to innovate and develop rental skates that are perfect for first time skaters and seasoned skaters.

The Passion for Ice Skating
For 60 years everyone who has worked at or with American Athletic Shoe Co. has had a strong passion to grow and develop the sport of ice skating around the world. That tradition continues today as American Athletic Shoe Co. grows and provides a strong presence in the ice skating community.