Local Sports Authority, Staples locations close

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Connecticut’s sputtering economy has claimed a pair of big-box retailer locations in the New Haven area.

Colorado-based athletic equipment retailer Sports Authority closed it Boston Post Road store near the Orange town line before Christmas and office products retailer Staples is closing its store on Universal Drive in New Haven today.

Officials from the corporate headquarters of both retailers did not return calls made by the New Haven Register Friday, but employees at the North Haven store confirmed the Staples location was closing.

North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda said Staples corporate officials had not contacted him about the closing.

“Economic development is a little like the old sporting analogy about baseball in that its a long season in which there are going to be some victories and some losses,” Freda said. “Overall, 2014 is going to an overwhelming economic victory for North Haven, but this was one of those things that is beyond the town’s control.”

The North Haven Staples location opened in late 2006.

The closing is the second major retail vacancy along Universal Drive in the past year. XPect Discounts closed its store across from Staples in July, putting 67 people out of work.

Freda said he views having two large retailers on the same street go out of business within six months “as an opportunity, not a challenge.”

“These are two choice retail locations and we’ll work with the landlord to market them until the right tenant is found,” he said.

With its Milford store closing, Sports Authority has six Connecticut stores, including one on Universal Drive North in North Haven. Staples has nearly 60 stores in Connecticut, including seven in the New Haven area.

Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706.