Neighboring Belmont Center Stores Raise Nearly $10K for One Fund Boston

The two stores are neighbors in Belmont Center, sharing a common wall. 

Champions Sporting Goods, 53 Leonard St., is known by generations of athletes and their parents in Belmont as the go-to shop for all things sports and being the official "cut through" from the Center to the parking lots out back.

51 Leonard St., is the "new" kid on the block, a wonderland of artisan beers from local and regional brewers, attracting townies and those who travel hours to sample the unique inventory.

And after the terrible events at the Boston Marathon on April 15, the stores with the common wall would put their efforts into the common cause of helping those directly impacted by the acts of two desperate brothers. 

Days after the tragedy when Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston's Mayor Tom Menino, along with the city, established One Fund Boston to assist the hundreds of victims, both sets of owners – Champions' Gerry Dickhaut and Suzanne Schalow and Kate Baker at Craft Beer – quickly marshaled their talents to raise what they could to help.

The Craft Beer Store took donations from customers and held a raffle. In addition, Clown Shoes Beer of Ipswich donated $1,000 to match the store's own donation. 

Next door, the Champions crew had T-shirts and baseball caps produced with the printed motto "Boston 617 Strong," with all proceeds going to the fund. The first two print runs were sold out in the matter of hours. Even today, white packages with customers names lie on the floor waiting for pick-up.

By today, Friday, May 10, the two small stores in Belmont Center have raised just about $9,500 for the One Fund.

"It's not about us. It's about those who need our help," said Schalow, who sent in a check for $5,005.91.