Academy Sports + Outdoors today opens the first of two Chattanooga-area stores in Hixson, Tennessee. The 66,504 square-foot store will officially cut the ribbon Friday morning before opening its doors to customers at 8 a.m. The Hixson location is the third Academy Sports + Outdoors location in Tennessee, and it will employ approximately 100 associates. Academy Sports + Outdoors currently employs about 400 associates in the state of Tennessee.
The second Academy Sports + Outdoors store will open later this year in Chattanooga at 2220 Hamilton Place Boulevard.
Regular store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Starting May 2, customers can find hot deals and a wide assortment of the store’s products in Academy Sports + Outdoors’ weekly newspaper ad or via academy.com.
The company will celebrate the Hixson store’s official grand opening May 7-9. There will be daily opportunities to win great prizes, to try out gear, and interact with pros that represent top brands sold at Academy Sports + Outdoors.
“We are confident that the Hixson community will enjoy the shopping experience at Academy Sports + Outdoors,” says Anita Sehgal, marketing vice president for Academy Sports + Outdoors. “We carry everything active-minded families need to have fun, whether it’s for participating in team sports, hunting, fishing, camping, or just hanging out in the backyard. Additionally, we look forward to creating long-lasting relationships with our customers and the local community.”
Academy Sports + Outdoors has a long history of community involvement with sports teams, youth organizations, outdoors and conservation programs and more. Individuals interested in requesting sponsorships for events or organizations can fill out the easy online application at academy.com. The company also gives Chattanooga residents an opportunity to interact directly with Academy Sports + Outdoors by posting comments and content via its Facebook and Twitter pages, which also can be found following the links at academy.com.
The tradition of engaging with the community is the result of the company founder’s philosophy. Academy Sports + Outdoors is a family-owned company currently owned by Chairman and CEO David Gochman, and led by President Rodney Faldyn. David’s grandfather, Max Gochman, founded Academy Tire Shop in 1938 in San Antonio, Texas, which has grown into what is now Academy Sports + Outdoors. Over the last several decades, the company has grown substantially from its small beginnings. Its sales reached one billion dollars in 2004 and two billion dollars in 2007. With the addition of the Hixson store, the company has expanded to 121 stores throughout 11 states, while employing over 15,000 associates. Those interested in working for Academy Sports + Outdoors should visit academy.com to view current openings.