Sports Basement to open its largest store locally
Sporting goods store to open in former Toys ‘R’ Us space next to Big 5
Sports Basement is set to open its largest store in the former Toys ‘R’ Us location in Redwood City on Nov. 1.
According to a Sports Basement official, the store will encompass 88,000 square feet, incorporating the adjacent Babies ‘R’ us and Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home buildings at the east end of Walnut Street near Highway 101. The company announced its acquisition on July 2.
Sports Basement’s flagship store in San Francisco’s Presidio neighborhood at roughly 80,000 square feet is currently the largest of nine now in operation by the 20-year-old company. The nearest location to Redwood City is in Sunnyvale.
“We’ve been looking for about 10 years for a space to open up in San Mateo County,” Aaron Schweifler, director of operations for the Bay Area-based company, said Tuesday. “We think this par-
ticular area is very valuable to be a part of.”
The new store will be just two doors down from Big 5 Sporting Goods. A Big 5 spokesperson could not
immediately be reached for comment.
Schweifler said the company is not concerned about being so close to another sporting goods store. He said Sports Basement offers different merchandise and an increasing part of its business involves renting out
sporting equipment and apparel. Big 5 does not offer rentals at its Redwood City store.
Sports Basement runs a loyalty program called Basementeers which offers members 10 percent discounts on all its goods for sale for life and 10 percent of profits from member
purchases go to local charities, nonprofits or schools, Schweifler said. The company is seeking Redwood City-area partners, he added.
As part of its policy, the company sets aside roughly 10,000 square feet at each of its locations where the community can gather
and access free internal programming. Local organizations can also use the space to host events, Schweifler said. Examples of events at other locations include film screenings, yoga classes and Boy Scouts meetings.
Sports Basement will hold an event dubbed the
Grand Snowpening sometime in mid-November, Schweifler added.
“It’ll be a big party with every snow brand and ski resort represented, with huge deals and giveaways,” he said.