Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The recent announcement that national retailer Sports Authority will be closing all of its locations nationwide was somewhat stunning to many consumers, particularly those locally who have been frequent shoppers over the years.
Utah is home to 11 stores from Ogden to Cedar City, with some dating back decades to incarnations that precede the retailer’s current moniker. In 1987, Gart Sports acquired locally based Stevens-Brown Sports Co. and eventually changed the name to Gart Sports, operating fours locations in the Salt Lake Valley at the time.
The company later opened its flagship Gart Bros. Supercastle at 5550 S. 900 East, Murray. The 75,000-square-foot, two-level store was the largest store of its kind in Utah at the time.
The store was the local home to the annual Labor Day event called "Sniagrab" — “bargains” spelled backward. Touted as the world’s largest ski and snowboard sale, Sniagrab offered customers deep discounts on previous seasons’ ski and snowboard equipment, along with winter apparel and accessories. Last year marked the 61st year of the popular event.
In August 2003, Sports Authority merged with Gart Sports with the combined company taking on the Sports Authority name. The new chain grew to more than 400 stores nationwide with about 15,000 employees, generating over $3.4 billion in 2014.
Since 2006, Sports Authority has been a subsidiary of Leonard Green & Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm with investments in 39 companies in a variety of industries including retail, health care, marketing and banking.
Sports Authority employs between 300 to 400 people statewide. Typically, stores employ 25 to 30 workers, with most hired as part-timers, though some larger locations may have slightly larger staffing.
The Denver Post reported in March that the company is in the process of marketing scores of subleases to other retailers across the country. Thus far, however, most stores are operating as usual as the merchandise liquidation process continues.
No timetable has been announced regarding the final close out.
