Big 5 Slashes Prices in Final Push, Declares ‘We’re Here to Stay’

Big 5 Sporting Goods in Maricopa will permanently close its doors on November 9, 2023. The store, located at 41800 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, has been part of the community since January 2017.

As the closure date approaches, the retailer has initiated a liquidation sale, offering significant discounts across all departments to encourage local customers to take advantage of the deals. Stephanie Loud, the company’s print media director, expressed gratitude for the community’s support over the past eight years while announcing the closing.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of our Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Maricopa,” Loud stated. She assured customers that although the Maricopa location will close, the remaining 40 stores in Arizona will continue to serve the region.

One unidentified employee cited rising rent costs as the reason for the store’s closure. “The rent increased significantly,” the staffer revealed, acknowledging the news of the closure came as a surprise to employees late last month. The store’s closure will affect 15 employees, though they are expected to be absorbed by other Big 5 locations.

Plans to vacate the store by Thanksgiving are underway, and it’s anticipated that the building will be repurposed, potentially for a school catering to children with autism and ADHD, although this has yet to be confirmed.

Currently, Big 5 is the sole sporting goods retailer in Maricopa. The company announced last August its intention to close four stores by the end of the year, with expectations to shut down an additional four locations in 2024. Big 5 operates 424 stores, with a significant presence in several western states.

Financially, Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation has faced challenges, with stock prices down 71% since the beginning of the year. Analysts previously speculated on the viability of the business model, especially in light of economic pressures affecting consumer spending on non-essential goods.