The 50 Best Family-Run Sporting Goods Stores in the U.S.

Are there even 50 family-run sporting goods stores in the United States? If Sports Authority can’t make it, how can a mom and pop store?

Actually, there are hundreds of family-run sporting goods stores in the United States. As for why they can make it, and huge chains like Sports Authority can’t, it is quite simple.

The big guys stopped caring about you. As marketing consultant Jon Schallert put it, they are “product generalists rather than product specialists.”

Family-run sporting goods stores are product specialists. They’re not focused on a demographic. They are focused on you.

Also, they cater to local teams, and we’re not just talking about local professional teams. People want to feel like they are a part of something, and they feel just that when they shop at their local, independent sporting goods stores.

These two concepts, specialization and being a part of a team or community, ultimately decided who made and who didn’t make our list of the 50 best family-run sporting goods stores in the USA.

Some of the following shops are about team sports, some are about the great outdoors, and a few are about one particular sport. Even so, all of the following stores, and the families behind them, care deeply about improving the sporting experiences of their customers.

Alfred's Sport Shop

All Seasons Sports

All Star Sports

Allen Sports Center

Seminole, FL

Opened in 1975, the family-owned Allen Sports Center is a full service sporting goods business. It doesn’t matter if you’re a team, league, or corporation, when you do business with Allen Sports you’ll be served by a professional sales team with over 200 years of experience. So, if you need screening, embroidery, or equipment, you need your hometown friends at Allen Sports Center.

Alpine Hut

Seattle, WA

Alpine Hut owner Kyle Fisher, and his crack staff, in particular Jim Finkle, Sara Shier, and Mitch, do more then sell sporting goods, they help you explore the Pacific Northwest. For more than four decades, Alpine Hut has been your destination for everything skiing and biking. In other words, this welcoming and friendly store on 15th Avenue sells adventures.

Al's Tennis Shop

Appalachian Outfitters

Arlberg Sports

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure

Bolio's Sporting Goods

Milford, MA

If you need a uniform for your team you’ve got to put Bolio’s Sporting Goods into your lineup. Their computer generated art work can produce just about any logo your team can devise. Even better, your logo will be placed on a high-quality garment. Francis and Angela opened the store in 1978. Today, Jeffrey and Lorna Bolio operate the Milford location while Tom Bolio runs the store in Webster.







Boone Mountain Sports

Brown Bear Sporting Goods

Burghardt Sporting Goods

Burke's Sport Haven

C&S Sporting Goods

Phoenix, AZ

Your kids have moved on to other things. So what do you do with all their old sporting goods? Take it all to C&S Sporting Goods. They buy, and take in trade, used sporting equipment. They also sell brand new sporting equipment. By the way, this store is the place to go if you’re putting together a home gym. C&S Sporting Goods is a family-owned business that opened in 2011.





DQM



New York City

DQM is a very unique shopping experience. It’s perhaps the most interesting establishment on our list. It was founded in 2003 by professional skateboarder Chris Keeffe. DQM began life as a skate shop but has since evolved into a worldwide brand. Despite all the success and all the attention, DQM still represents skateboarding, skateboarders, and New York City.

Dunn’s Sporting Goods

Eastside Sports

Eich's Sports

Feet First

Tampa, FL

Feet First is all about running. They carry shoes, socks, apparel, and insoles. While running is a solitary endeavor, the Feet First staff provides one-on-one service. Their staff is very skilled and they truly care about their customer’s performance. If you’re serious about jogging, you need to run to Feet First. They’ve been helping runners in Tampa for more than 30 years. They also have a St. Petersburg location.



Final Score Sporting Goods

Holabird Sports

Homewood Sporting Goods

Jeff's Sporting Goods

Joe's Sporting Goods

St. Paul, MN

From water sports to snow sports to hunting, camping, and fishing, Joe’s Sporting Goods has you covered. Oh yeah, they are the only shop in Minnesota that’s part of America's Best Bootfitters; they can make sure your ski boots don’t pinch. Joe’s can trace its origin to 1930 when it was a Buick repair garage. Today, the store is owned by founder Joseph J. Rauscher’s grandsons, Joseph H. and James T.



Johnson's Sporting Goods

Kelly's Sports, Ltd

Lahout's Ski Shop

Medusa Skates

Middlebury Sports & Apparel

Randolph, NJ

Middlebury Sports & Apparel is actually a membership club for equipment heavy sports. They aim to keep athletes playing the sports they love by offering quality products and elite services at the lowest prices possible. They also believe in educating their customers and staying up-to-date with technology. MSA began in 2004 as a small embroidery shop located inside an ice skating rink.



Mount Kisco Sports

Outdoor Research Retail Store

Outdoor Sports Center

Wilton, CT

Here’s a clear indicator of the specialness of Outdoor Sports Center. The store can trace its roots back more than half a century when John and Sidney Maxwell founded it under the name “The Ski Hut.” Their son, Jack, has since moved the store and renamed it. Yet, they still have customers who can recall their “Ski Hut” beginnings. OSC is committed to their community and respecting the great outdoors.

Panda Sport

Paragon Sporting Goods Company

New York City

Paragon Sporting Goods Company is located at 867 Broadway at 18th Street. Paragon has been privately owned since 1908. That means Paragon has over 100 years of providing Big Apple athletes with quality sports equipment and clothing. Don’t think Paragon is stuck in the past. They pride themselves on delivering to their customers the most technologically advanced products on the market.



Port Jefferson Sporting Goods

Portland Running Company

Quint's Sporting Goods

Reynolds and Sons

Grand Rapids, MI

Reynolds and Sons was founded in 1927. The family-owned sporting goods store is known for its attentive custom service, a robust inventory, and low, low prices. R&S is the place to go for shoes—they carry Jordan Lifestyle—as well as sports equipment. You’ll find Reynolds & Sons in downtown Grand Rapids, but they serve the entire community of West Michigan.



Ritchies Sporting Goods

River Valley Sports

Scott's Sports Supplies

Streiff Sporting Goods

The Natick Outdoor Store

The Sports Locker

Olean, NY

The Sports Locker specialty is team apparel, silk screening, and banner making. They are known throughout the Enchanted Mountain Region for their quick turnarounds, top-notch products, and their courteous custom service. The Sports Locker is family-owned and operated and has been in the sporting goods business since 1984. Located on W. State Street, the Sports Locker is opened seven days a week.



TradeWins Sports

Val's Sporting Goods

Wayne Sporting Goods

Whitney's Outfitters

Yeager's Sporting Goods

Bellingham, WA

Yeager's Sporting Goods commenced in 1921 when Ira Yeager began selling outboard motors from his garage. His son-in-law, Frank Uhrig, bought the business in 1980. Yeager’s is now owned by Ira’s grandsons. If you hunt and fish in Northwest Washington, you must visit their 26,000 square feet retail space. This space also includes their famous toyland and a huge housewares department.



