Academy Sports + Outdoors Forge Ahead With 3 New Doors
Academy Sports + Outdoors continues to grow its store base.
The sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer has opened two new doors in the second quarter and a third that's forthcoming later this month, bringing the total new stores opened to seven across six states thus far in 2025.
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The two new locations opened this month are in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Midlothian, Vir., with a third door slated to open in Morgantown, W. Vir., later this month. Included in the seven new stores opened this year are the retailer's first stores in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The retailer is one of the few retailers that has steadily been expanding its store base. It opened 14 new doors across six states in 2023, followed by 16 new sites in 10 different states in 2024. The company plans to open between 160 to 180 new locations over the next five years, and has plans to open between 20 to 25 new stores this year.
In March, the retailer said it is expanding its Nike partnership and adding the Jordan brand into its stores and online. It also debuted the Converse brand in January.
As part of its focus on local communities, the retailer's store opening celebrations at each new store included hosting donation shopping sprees with local non-profits, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of The Emerald Coast and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond in Fort Walton Beach and Midlothian. The events included exclusive deals and giveaways for the entire family.
'Academy Sports + Outdoors' generous donations have already made a significant impact in our local community by not only providing essential equipment but also breaking down financial barriers that often prevent kids from participating in sports and outdoor activities,' Shervin Rassa, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, said. 'This support directly enhances our Triple Play program, which promotes daily physical activity and an overall healthy lifestyle. We are excited to continue our partnership by helping more young people stay active, build confidence, and enjoy sports and outdoor fun.'
Academy, which sells apparel, footwear and sporting equipment across a myriad of categories and both national brands and private label, also offers free services such as bike assembly. National brands include Nike, Adidas, L.L. Bean, Carhartt, and Brooks, among others. Private label brands include Magellan Outdoors, Freely, R.O.W., BCG, H2OX, Redfield, and Mosaic.
The company said the three new stores are expected to bring 'nearly 200 total new jobs' to their local communities.
Jefferies analyst Jonathan Matuszewski said last month that the retailer could benefit from newness in footwear and its growing loyalty program, as well as potentially capture the trade-down customer. The company in March named Sumit Anand as its chief information officer.
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