Big 5 Sports Bows Out: Owner Blames Soaring Rents

The Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Maricopa, located at 41800 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, will shut its doors permanently on November 8. Opened in January 2017, the store’s closure was attributed to rising rental costs, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous.

An employee stated, “The rent increased significantly.” This decision, impacting 15 employees, was communicated about three weeks prior to the closure. Fortunately, those affected will be relocated to other Big 5 locations.

The employee expressed a desire for a new site within Maricopa but noted financial constraints. “We’d love to find property in town, but that’s for people who get paid a little more than I do,” the source remarked. The process of vacating the building, which was constructed in 2016, is expected to be finalized by Thanksgiving.

While there are indications that the building may transform into a school catering to children with autism and ADHD, this information is yet to be confirmed.