Schuylkill Valley Sports plans Coventry Mall holiday shop
‘Fan shop’ will offer shoppers an additional choice
Schuylkill Valley Sports shoppers will have a choice of shopping locations this holiday season. The sporting goods retailer has announced it will open a temporary holiday store in the Coventry Mall.
Schuylkill Valley Sports relocated from the mall to the Upland Square Shopping Center in West Pottsgrove last November, when it opened a new 5,500-square-foot store. The Coventry Mall location didn’t close right away, staying open through the holidays last year and into the spring before closing.
“It was always the plan to reopen a temporary holiday store in the Coventry Mall,” said Phil Baumgardner, marketing director and buyer for Schuylkill Valley Sports. “We had signage at the
“It was always the plan to reopen a temporary holiday store in the Coventry Mall. We had signage at the old spot saying we would be coming back. This will be a temporary location — open just during the fourth quarter.”
— Phil Baumgardner, marketing director and buyer, Schuylkill Valley Sports
old spot saying we would be coming back. This will be a temporary location — open just during the fourth quarter.”
Baumgardner said the location will be opening by late October, once some logistics are finalized. He said the company expects to use just about all of the location’s 9,500-squarefeet of space as what the company is calling a “temporary Fan Shop.”
“The store will have a focus on licensed fan gear products. All the leagues will be represented and we’ll also have items that will be big for fourth quarter gift giving,” Baumgardner said, adding that the location will also have some branded items including products by Under Armour and Northface.
Baumgardner stressed that the Upland Square store is not closing, and that the Coventry Mall store will be in addition to Upland Square, “giving
shoppers another option during the holiday season.”
“We want to make it convenient for the community. The two stores will have similar offerings, but the mall will carry more fan gear and novelty items,” Baumgardner added. “This is a good opportunity for us — we’re looking to build a nice product selection at the Coventry Mall,” he added.
Baumgardner said the move is part of a new strategy by the company to take advantage of temporary holiday stores, adding the company is planning two other temporary stores. He was unable to give specific details about the other temporary stores because details are still being finalized. But he was able to say they’re located “in the Berks County and Lancaster market.”
“We’re excited — it’s a great thing they’re coming back,” said Steve Batten, Coventry Mall manager and marketing director.
To welcome the sporting goods chain, the mall has planned an event for
Friday, Oct. 21 — an appearance by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, Jordan Hicks. Batten said Hicks will be signing autographs at Schuylkill Valley Sports from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21. Fans looking to obtain an autograph and photo will be asked to pay $10 for each item signed, according to Batten
Baumgardner said the company is looking to hire management, full- and part-time employees for the new location and for other seasonal positions, as well.
To find out about openings and to apply visit www.svsports.com/info/ careers.
Schuylkill Valley Sports has been serving the sporting goods needs of eastern and central Pennsylvania since 1971. Baumgardner said the company had a store in the Coventry Mall for about 30 years, before making the decision to open the new location in the Upland Square Shopping Center. The company’s flagship Audubon store relocated to the Oaks Shopping Center in 2015.