Strong spring for sporting goods stores
March 6 – SCRANTON – Local gear stores are welcoming an onslaught of high school athletes preparing for spring as Dick’s Sporting Goods has temporarily closed at the Viewmont Mall.
Stores like Battaglia’s Sporting Goods on Wyoming Avenue and Scranton Running Co. on West Olive Street have catered to demand for everything from premium baseball and softball bats to carbon-coated running shoes.
“We loaded early, about six to eight months ago,” said Paul Ezbiansky, owner of Battaglia’s.
Dick’s and Field & Stream stores at Viewmont Mall closed in late January as the location transitions to a new concept called Dick’s House of Sport, which is expected to open in early August.
During the remodel, Dick’s plans to open a temporary location at 1600 Nay Aug Ave. to open in Scranton, which may open as early as late March, a store representative said on Monday.
Meanwhile, local shops are filling the gap.
A Wyoming Avenue staple for more than three decades, Battaglia’s carries gear for all spring sports.
The busiest months are March and April, and Ezbiansky noted a steady flow of customers on Saturday.
“We mainly sell to teams and small leagues,” he said. “We’re doing a few retail stores and people looking for last-minute things will come in.”
Matt Byrne, owner of Scranton Running Co. and Forty Fort-based Valley Running Co., admittedly hadn’t given much thought to the impact of Dick’s closure on his business, but did notice a surge in business.
“We had a lot more foot traffic than normal in January and February and March is always one of our busiest, if not our busiest month of the year,” he said. “I have a feeling it will probably continue into March.”
Byrne believes the store’s ability to source specific shoe styles and colors gives it an edge over stores in the area.
“We’re considered a special account for running specialists, so by default we get access to some shoes that others can’t get,” he said.
Although stores like Scranton Running Co. are establishing an online presence, some customers gravitate to discount sporting goods websites to find bargains.
“People go online to buy a lot of things because you can get a good deal on a lot of things,” said Mark Avellino, president of the Jessup Youth Sports Association.
And many players order racquets directly from manufacturers’ websites, said Joe Ross, Holy Cross’s head softball coach.
“The great thing about the bats now is that they have a guarantee because they crack so much,” Ross said. “It’s important that you get the guarantee, especially with the weather in Northeast PA.”
Contact the author: [email protected]; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.