Workers have been busy gutting the vacant building next to
Albertsons on McCray Street to make room for soccer balls and
running shoes in preparation for a new Big 5 Sporting Goods store,
scheduled to open this month.
Hollister – Workers have been busy gutting the vacant building next to Albertsons on McCray Street to make room for soccer balls and running shoes in preparation for a new Big 5 Sporting Goods store, scheduled to open this month.
Big 5, the largest sporting goods chain in the western United States, will open at 251 McCray Street on Oct. 21. The Hollister store will be the retailer’s 175th location in California.
“We are very excited about becoming a part of Hollister’s growing and energetic market,” Big 5 President Steve Miller said in a press release.
The new store will create a minimum of six full-time jobs and several part time positions, according to Rick Gridley, operations manager for Big 5. Gridley was not sure of the average wage that Big 5 pays.
Big 5 has high hopes for the Hollister store.
“We are certain that our 50 years of experience in the sporting goods business will enable us to successfully fulfill the needs of sports enthusiasts in this community,” Miller said.
Though the Big 5 is sure to be competition for Hollister’s long-established downtown sporting goods retailer, Muenzer’s Cyclery and Sports Center, the Muenzer’s aren’t too concerned.
“I think we can both co-exist,” said Jerry Muenzer, who runs Muenzer’s with his sister Jan Holthouse. “I don’t see any problem,” he said.
Founded in 1910, Muenzer’s has been at its current location at 221 Fifth Street since 1969. Muenzer said that regardless of the Big 5, he’ll continue doing business like he always has.
“I guess I feel like we’ve been honest with our customers, not that others aren’t honest,” he said. “We try to conduct our business in an honest way – a good product at a fair price.”
Also, Muenzer said, he has loyal customers.
“We have people who say that they bought their first bike from my grandfather, and now they’re back buying a bike for their grandson,” he said.
But if he has to lose some business to a competitor, Muenzer said he was glad that competitor was in Hollister. “Better to pull people to McCray Street than to Tenth Street in Gilroy,” he said.
The Hollister Downtown Association is receptive to the Big 5 moving into Hollister.
“It will keep business in town,” said HDA Vice President Marilyn Ferreira. “People won’t have to go out of town.”
Ferreira said she wasn’t worried that the Big 5 will pull too much business away from Muenzer’s.
“Muenzer’s will continue to thrive. They have their own niche and loyal customers,” she said. “The important thing is to keep people in town.”
And aside from keeping local dollars in Hollister the Big 5 could have a long-term economic benefit for the city. If it’s successful, more chain stores might be drawn to Hollister, according to Al Martinez, executive director of the San Benito County Economic Development Corporation.
“(Chain stores) are going to be interested to see what happens, to see if it brings traffic into that little shopping center,” he said.
Though the new Big 5 in Hollister will open its doors Oct. 21, it will have a grand opening event on Oct. 23, which will include a sweepstakes for customers.
Luke Roney covers local politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
