Update: Store owner discusses boycott possibility

Steel City Sports owners hadn't shared anything on Facebook for nearly two months, until Monday morning.

Business had been slow since Tanger Outlets opened new stores and the relatively timeworn Rockvale Outlets saw a decrease in traffic. When Steel City Sports published a Facebook post saying new Steelers and Penguins merchandise had arrived, the response wasn't joy from faithful fans and customers but the threat of a boycott.

"I was shocked and mystified at being the target of a boycott," said owner Susan Moedinger.

Monday evening, she shared confusion as to how the Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to stay off of the field during the national anthem landed at her business' doorstep. Dozens of people have threatened to boycott Steel City Sports through social media and phone calls, Moedinger said. Several actually came into the store to share their contempt for her business.

"People have come in to the store and said, 'We're never shopping here again,'" Moedinger said. "I didn't know what we had to do with it. I'm not making the connection they're making, so it is difficult for me to understand."

Moedinger, a Pittsburgh native and fourth-generation fan, has owned the Pittsburgh sports themed store for four years with her husband and daughter. She said she didn't see the Steelers' actions at Sunday's game because she was at a church event. Prior to receiving calls from store employees to figure out how to respond to the backlash, the only thing she knew about what the team did during the national anthem was what Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game.

Hey Steel City Faithful - we've gotten a lot of questions about whether we're still open here at Rockvale - WE ARE OPEN!... Posted by Steel City Sports on Monday, September 25, 2017

After the surge of feedback on the harmless Facebook post, Moedinger said she watched videos of Alejandro Villanueva, Cameron Heyward and and Ben Roethlisberger addressing the team's national anthem decision. She said wants to keep politics out of the business at all times and as a result did not have a comment on what the Steelers did.

"I don't think the game of football should be politicized," Moedinger said. "Sports often unite us and I hate to see it as yet another thing that divides."

The family-owned store is not affiliated with the Steelers and simply sells merchandise, Moedinger said. Still, she said the business has fielded inquires about whether the American flag is sold at the store as a reaction to Sunday's events. Her daughter's response on Facebook was that the business has never sold the flag and wouldn't want to start doing so now to profit off the national discussion.

"I'm not un-American because I don't sell American flags," Moedinger said. "That's not my business."

Moedinger said customers have gone as far as accusing the business of hiding Villanueva jerseys in the stockroom, rather than sell them because of their anti-American views. Moedinger pointed to the fact that her grandfather served in World War II, her husband in the Vietnam War, and her son completed three tours of duty in Iraq -- refuting the notion her family didn't respect the flag or military service.

"I think it points to everyone knowing the facts before giving their opinions," Moedinger said of people's assumptions and the ideas behind the boycott threats.

Also on the issue of the Villanueva jersey, Moedinger said she spoke with Nike about adding the the jersey to the store and was told she would have to buy 144 to fill an order. Buying that many jerseys is something the small proverbial mom-and-pop store can't afford, she added.

Relating the importance of customer service for Steel City Sports, Moedinger said her family has been responding to complaints and trying to get people to understand the situation and their detachment from the larger discussion. Moedinger said she understands that people might be frustrated, but doesn't think that should mean a boycott of her store. She quipped that the new Penguins gear was still for sale, before reiterating that her family's store fosters a civil environment and shouldn't be attached to any larger discussion.

"It's not political to us and we'd just as soon keep it that way," Moedinger said of people who were considering not shopping at the store. "If they allow themselves an open mind, there is truth all around."