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Big 5, the leading sporting goods retailer in the Western United States, is located at 568 W. Main St. in the Santa Paula Shopping Center.
The 11,260 square foot full-line sporting goods store offers outstanding values on brand name sports equipment, apparel, and athletic shoes for the entire family.
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Big 5 Sporting Goods opens new store in Santa Paula
December 18, 2013
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
You can save your energy for your favorite game by shopping close to home at the new Big 5 Sporting Goods, a haven for players in need of shoes, equipment, clothing and accessories.
Plenty of sports enthusiasts in the community are working up a shopping sweat since Big 5 opened December 12.
Big 5, the leading sporting goods retailer in the Western United States, is located at 568 W. Main St. in the Santa Paula Shopping Center. The 11,260 square foot full-line sporting goods store offers outstanding values on brand name sports equipment, apparel, and athletic shoes for the entire family.
Steve Miller, President/CEO, said, “The emphasis in all Big 5 stores is on providing a wide selection of top quality, nationally recognized brand name sporting goods, while also focusing on providing friendly, knowledgeable service to our customers.”
The Big 5 name is derived from its start in 1955 as five Army-Navy surplus stores in Southern California. Headquartered in El Segundo, Big 5 now has 428 stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The Santa Paula store opening marked the 217th Big 5 store in California.
Miller added, “We are very excited about becoming a part of Santa Paula’s growing and energetic market and believe that our 58 years of experience in the sporting goods business will enable us to successfully fulfill the needs of sports enthusiasts in this community.”
Sports are a major part of Santa Paula community life with a wide network of kids’ sports including soccer, baseball and football involving thousands of children and youth. Adults are also active in sports and work out activities and the city’s famed Bike Trail affords whole families plenty of opportunities to walk and run.
And no matter the activity it’s a given that footwear is an important component.
Big 5, said Rick Gridley, director of public affairs, not only has a very strong focus on youth sports but also footwear, one of its strongest sellers.
“Big 5 has an extremely good shoe program,” for the whole family, said Gridley.
And other programs for Santa Paula, which Gridley said research showed is a “Good, vibrant community,” and a good match for Big 5.
“Big 5 also has special savings available for teams, recreation leagues and schools,” not only offering discounts on merchandise but also assistance through a fundraising program.
And speaking of feet, Store Manager Chris Abughazaleh said Friday there’s been “Pretty well constant traffic,” since the store opened.
And customers are well stocked with positive comments: “Everyone pretty much has the same attitude, everybody’s happy,” he noted.
The approximately 20 employees are being kept busy with shoppers including those who mirror Abughazaleh’s own fondness for footwear.
“I probably have eight pairs of shoes and three pairs I haven’t worn yet,” he admitted.
A 10-year Big 5 veteran, Abughazaleh, a Simi Valley resident, has already found Santa Paula to be “A tight knit community, it’s wonderful. We’re excited to be in Santa Paula and we’re going to keep the buzz going!”
Normal store hours are: weekdays - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Extended holiday hours will see Big 5 open an hour earlier than normal business hours and close an hour to 90 minutes past the regular closing time. The extended hours - and special holiday sales! - will be in effect throughout December!
For more information call the store at 805-933-2300 or visit Big 5 Sporting Goods online at www.big5sportinggoods.com
Big 5 company stock is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market under the symbol BGFV.
