New sporting goods store to open

Local shoppers will soon have another option to choose from for sporting goods.

The national sporting goods retailer, Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc., recently announced that its newest store will open soon in Fort Scott, employing about eight full-time and part-time team members.

"We're thrilled to be opening a new store in Fort Scott," Jeff Rosenthal, president and CEO of Hibbett Sports, said in a news release. "People in Fort Scott take their sports seriously, and we plan to give them the sporting goods products and know-how they've been looking for."

Hibbett Sports is a fast-growing operator of more than 750 full-line sporting goods stores in small-to-mid-sized markets, most of them located in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest portions of the United States. The primary store format is a 5,000-square-foot store in dominant strip centers and enclosed malls, according to the news release.

The company offers a large selection of quality athletic equipment, footwear and apparel, with a focus on knowledgeable, friendly customer service. The company features an expansive selection of brand name merchandise, with an eye toward meeting the needs of the team and individual sports participants. Another priority is offering localized apparel and accessories, according to the release.

The company has a long history of focusing on the needs of local teams and leagues, providing a variety of services to meet the needs of coaches and players alike.

Hibbett Sports is the only sporting goods chain committed to serving small markets. Keeping costs low while keeping customers happy has proved to be a successful goal for the company as it continues to successfully expand its number of stores across the U.S., according to the release.

From its beginning in 1945, the company's focus has been on serving the local community, Rosenthal said.

"No matter how many stores we open, we don't lose sight of the fact that every town we serve is a hometown," he said.

Company officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday on the date the local store would be open for business or where it will be located.