Sports Authority's bigger outdoor presence?

Since Joe's went in the tank I've been wondering if there was going to be another big box store coming in. It looks like Sports Authority may be stepping up. They've got a few new stores opening up (Northgate & Lake Stevens) and the Outdoor section of most of their current stores are expanding.

Z

They already have a pretty large selection online.  And soon after Joe's closure, I chatted with an employee at our local Sports Authority and he said he heard rumor that they would be trying to refill Joe's shoes.  I poked around their store again later and although they increased their instore fishing/hunting stock, they still lacked severely in filling Joe's hole. 

Hopefully they will be able up the anti soon and get more instore stock.   

Dick's been the big one to step up down here.  The opened their Wash.Square store a couple years ago, before Joe's went under.  Dick's had a VERY rough start since they're an east coast company.

They just opened 6 more stores in Oregon, and their fishing departments are improving, but nowhere near good.

I've been hearing BiMart (another oregon company) has been improving its selection as well!

I don't know what WA anglers are going to do though. I'm surprised that no one has really stepped up to the plate up there.

Between Sportco, Cabelas, and Wal-Mart, I haven't noticed a problem finding what I need so far.

Dick's really needs to improve their selection of salmon drift and bobber gear!  Their Hillsboro store had no salmon size bobbers and a somewhat limited supply of slamon hooks.  They could also use a better selection of lead!  Seems like their buyers have a lot more experience with Bass than with Salmon and Steelhead.


When I talked with the manager at the local Sports Authority last year he said that they were going to up their selection to fill the Joe's gap but I haven't seen it yet.

Bi-Mart has always had a decent selection but they just don't have the real-estate to carry everything.

-Spot-

I agree with Lee.. here in WA. Wal-mart is good i really like Sportco.. and i am finding out that Wholesale sports is stepping up decently to since they have bought out Sportsmans Warehouse. I think there prices are a middle between walmart and Cabellas.

SG

If you have proof that you are a Veteran (disabled ID for example) Cabelas gives a 5% discount.  They also send out coupons for $10, $20 off on a very frequent basis.  I find that after discounts and such, there isn't really a price difference.  Joining Cabela's club is free and you build up reward dollars, which can be used at any time as well.

like others said Outdoor Emporium/Sportco still has all the good fishing gear we'll ever need so we're covered. Filling Joe's vacuum was the toughie. I've yet to check out their new outdoor section but it was pretty bad before. A lot of junk gear. I spend most of my coin on gear at OE but it's always nice to have a backup since their hours are short.

Z

In Portland we have Fishermen's Marine and Outdoor which is our locally owned equivalent to Sportco.  But with only two locations (North Portland and Oregon City) they aren't as accessible as Joe's used to be.   We also have a Wholesale Sports (formally Sportsman's Wharehouse) in Clackamas which is okay.

In Portland we have Fishermen's Marine and Outdoor which is our locally owned equivalent to Sportco.  But with only two locations (North Portland and Oregon City) they aren't as accessible as Joe's used to be.   We also have a Wholesale Sports (formally Sportsman's Wharehouse) in Clackamas which is okay.

I sure wish that there was a westside Fisherman's!  Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll expand to the old Beaverton Joe's.   

Did Joe's go under because of mismanagment, or lack of business?  If it was for lack of business, Nobody with brains would try to 'fill' their vacancy unless they feel confident they could take business from the surrounding competition as well.

I would think it was mismanagement rather than lack of business.  For people in my neck of the woods and on up north through Puyallup area , it was the place to go for most fishing and outdoorsy stuff.

Wholesale Sports in Lacey, SportCo in Fife are my go-to places now.  I am very pleased with prices, selection and service at both but they are each an hour away.  I'll make the 35 min. drive to Fred Meyer and Walmart only as part of the honey-do list, but they are better than you might expect.

It is interesting that sportsman warehouse only sold a few of there stores to wholesale sports. Most of the country's stores are still owned by sportsman warehouse.  
I like outdoor emporium the best as far as selection. I think sportco is slightly cheaper though (which is odd considering its the same owners) I bought my pistol from sportco and found it interesting it was nearly 100 dollars cheaper then outdoor emporium. (sportco had it the cheapest of anywhere I went and trust me I went nearly everywhere)
Sportco doesn't have as good a fishing selection as outdoor emporium though. Plus its far away for me

I end up buy most of my stuff online these days.  I do like Fisherman's, but it's a bit far from my house.

I like both of these online stores. 
http://www.cnksaltwatertackle.com/home.html
http://www.charkbait.com/indexT.htm

Did Joe's go under because of mismanagement, or lack of business?  If it was for lack of business, Nobody with brains would try to 'fill' their vacancy unless they feel confident they could take business from the surrounding competition as well.

Mismanagement.   I read that they'd been bought up by a holding company who over extended themselves and spent too much trying to reinvent "GI Joes" as "Joes".