Sports Authority Closing Central Coast Stores

The Central Coast is losing its Sports Authority. The popular sporting goods chain is closing local stores as part of a bankruptcy re-organization.

Sports Authority used to have a prominent storefront location in downtown San Luis Obispo until it moved to a bigger location on the outskirts of downtown where it faced bigger competition.

“There’s already too many big sporting good chains”, said shopper Kevin Owens outside the Sports Authority store in the Madonna Shopping Center, “these guys are one of the higher priced, and they don’t have nearly as much as Dick’s does, so its not a shocker.”

National chain Dick’s Sporting Goods opened a larger, big box store just down the street from Sports Authority on Los Osos Valley Road.

“”They have a better selection here at Dick’s”, says Dick’s customer David Thomas, “for all your fishing stuff, outdoor stuff, running, fitness etc, I kind of like the area.”

Downtown San Luis Obispo continues to thrive with its storefront shopping experience along with all the restaurants and bars.

Cities continue to pursue big box retail shopping centers for their all important sales tax revenue.

“Costco is right across the way, you got Target here on my left”, David Thomas adds, “Dick’s is here, this just seems like the area to be.”

“Dick’s Sporting Goods seems to have more staying power, and I expect Dick’s to pick up a portion of the store”, says Sports Authority shopper Barney Podlaski, “and good ole Big 5, you know funky ole Big 5, still around, it cranks along, really, have you have ever been in a fancy Big 5 store?”

The final sale for Sports Authority reflects a growing evolution, or revolution, in the retail industry from shopping in stores to shopping and buying online.

“I own a retail store and we compete heavily with the internet”, Kevin Owens says, “the kids will come in and look and play with stuff and then they will go buy it online to save ten dollars, that is the future unfortunately.”

The store manager of the Goleta location said that store will remain open through the business restructuring.

The San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Thousand Oaks Sports Authority stores are expected to close for good as soon as most of their existing inventory is sold.

For view a list of Sports Authority stores that will be closing, CLICK HERE.