Academy Sports + Outdoors Gearing Up For Opening
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Ohio Valley residents will soon have a new destination for sporting goods, outdoor equipment and apparel as Academy Sports + Outdoors prepares to open its newest location at the Ohio Valley Mall.
Employees were putting the finishing touches on the 55,000-square-foot store Thursday morning ahead of the store's soft opening at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Store Director Amy Darnell said the team is excited to bring Academy's fifth Ohio location to the region. Other Ohio stores are located in Springfield, Boardman, North Canton and Zanesville. The closest West Virginia location is near Morgantown.
"We are stoked," Darnell said. "We've been getting a lot of positive feedback from the community."
The St. Clairsville store is part of Academy's continued expansion into northern states. The company, headquartered in Katy, Texas, began in 1938 as a tire shop before transitioning into an Army surplus store and eventually becoming a sporting goods retailer.
Darnell said Academy's focus on customer service and competitive pricing helps set it apart from other sporting goods retailers.
"We want to take care of every customer," she said. "We want to make sure we greet them, we help them with whatever they need help with and we thank them for coming in. On top of that, we have unbeatable prices. We have fantastic price points for our merchandise."
The store features equipment and apparel for a variety of sports and outdoor activities, including basketball, cycling, kayaking, fishing and hunting. It also carries major brands with options ranging from budget-friendly products to higher-end equipment.
The store also includes a trading card section for collectors.
Darnell, a native of southeast Missouri, said she has enjoyed learning about the wide variety of activities popular throughout the Ohio Valley.
"The different types of activities and things that interest people here are just amazing," she said. "I've really enjoyed the Ohio Valley since I got here. The people are friendly and there are lots of outdoor and nature-based things to enjoy."
Academy's soft opening will continue through Aug. 5. The store will host a community give-back day Aug. 6 in partnership with the St. Clairsville athletic department.
During the event, 20 individuals will receive $200 Academy gift cards, while the athletic department will receive $1,000 in gift cards to purchase needed equipment.
The store's grand opening is scheduled for Aug. 7.
"If you enjoy the outdoors -- whether it's sports-related, outdoors-related or nature-related, we've got you covered here," Darnell said.