In the past 10 years, no other sport has paralleled the growth of lacrosse in the Twin Cities. This once-fringe sport has become a main event, and the east side of the metro has been no exception in this newfound love for netted sticks. Woodbury has, in fact, become an epicenter for lacrosse, thanks to the store outfitting it all —East Side Lacrosse.
When Alain Rodrigue was a freshman in college at St. Cloud State, he never could have guessed that year would be the beginning of an enduring relationship with lacrosse, one that has brought him to open a lacrosse store in Woodbury. A friend at another college was playing lacrosse for his school’s club team, and encouraged Rodrigue to join the club team at St. Cloud. “Growing up in Canada, I had some friends that played,” Rodrigue says, “but I never had that much of a tie to it until college.” After playing four years for the club team, Rodrigue went to get his master’s degree in exercise physiology at Boise State. After graduation, he married his wife, coached, became the rec sports director and opened a lacrosse specialty store. Wanting to be closer to family, the couple returned to Minnesota. After some research, they decided on the suburb of Woodbury.
“I heard a lot of things about Woodbury being a growing community and a great place to raise a family,” Rodrigue says, “it turned out to be a great move.” From the time Rodrigue arrived in Woodbury, he knew that he wanted to open a lacrosse store, and after talking with lacrosse coaches and officials in surrounding communities, he knew that it was something that could be very successful. Less than a year after beginning to look for spaces, Rodrigue opened East Side Lacrosse in October of 2014. Though it has only been open for months, the store has become the go-to for the east side lacrosse scene.
That may be because this isn’t your average specialty sports shop. “We outfit the entire game and the entire staff—the entire season and off-season,” Rodrique says. Not only does East Side Lacrosse carry a wide range of equipment, the store has apparel, training equipment, officiating and coaching gear, and net stringing and team uniform ordering capabilities. “It’s truly a one-stop shop,” Rodrique says.
The success of the store can also be credited to the range of players it serves. Rodrigue says it’s very common for people who are completely new to the sport to come in and have a lot of questions while they pick out their equipment. On the other side of the spectrum, the store offers specialty equipment for advanced players and leagues. High school jerseys from neighboring communities that adorn the walls of the shop are just another testament to its elite following.
So what’s next for East Side Lacrosse? In a sport that requires players to build strong team relationships, Rodrigue recognizes the importance of building a trust and familiarity with customers in all communities. “The goal is to have developed relationships with all of the surrounding communities,” he says, “But our beginning relationship with Woodbury has been the most important of all.”
Rodrigue’s top picks from the store:
- For the wand: Tri-Kor Handles, $105-$165. The lightest and strongest lacrosse handle on the market, with an unheard of one-year warranty.
- Under Armour Strategy, $40-$100. Perfect for the beginning player; has solid protection and the ability to grow with the player for several years.
- STX Crux 300, $110. For female players, this is the top stick. The pocket lends itself to exceptional passing and shooting accuracy.
East Side Lacrosse
783 Radio Drive #102
651.702.5048
