First reported in Sept. 3 News and Neighbor
By Jeff Keeling
As first reported in the Sept. 3 News and Neighbor, Academy Sports+Outdoors will open a 63,000-square-foot store in the Hamilton Place shopping center just off of North State of Franklin Road. The company made it official in a news release this morning.
Hamilton Place developer K.D. Moore’s company pulled a grading permit Aug. 21 to prepare the site. The permit followed a late July submittal of plans to Johnson City’s development services department from a Knoxville firm.
“I feel sure he’s got a good tenant lined up,” City Manager Pete Peterson said in the Sept. 3 article. The city has agreed to build an on-ramp to get Hamilton Place customers conveniently back on to State of Franklin as part of the deal to get Academy to the site.
“With the development of this piece in here (Academy), that justifies going ahead and building the ramp.”
Academy didn’t return calls and emails for comment several weeks ago, but their representatives are talking now. Read the full Sept. 3 story at jcnewsandneighbor.com/academy-sports/.
“We are excited to offer active-minded families in Johnson City a new and convenient location to shop before heading out to Winged Deer Park, hitting the links at Pine Oaks Golf Course or getting ready for the next little league season,” Ken Attaway, Academy Sports + Outdoors executive vice president, chief operating officer said in the company’s news release. “We’re looking forward to opening next year and being an active member of the Johnson City community for years to come.”
Academy Sports + Outdoors’ Johnson City store will be nearly 63,000 square feet and create approximately 125 jobs, the release states. The store will provide many services including assembly and delivery, hunting and fishing licenses, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling, propane exchange and racquet stringing and have a broad selection of local team gear that customers have come to expect.
According to the release, the store also will get active in the community:
A cornerstone of the Academy Sports + Outdoors philosophy is active community support and grassroots involvement throughout its footprint. The company has a history of giving back to local communities through partnerships with sports teams, youth organizations, and outdoor conservation programs. Academy Sports + Outdoors is a Proud Corporate Sponsor of the Tennessee Vols, Exclusive Sporting Goods Retailer of the Tennessee Titans, and a proud partner of Ducks Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Federation.
Individuals interested in careers can visit www.academy.com/careers to apply for positions. Prior to the store opening, customers can shop academy.com, receive the digital version of the weekly ad, engage with Academy through its social media sites, sign up for email and SMS text alerts, or visit any of the other Tennessee stores.
The Texas-based company operates 180 stores in 13 states. For more information about Academy Sports + Outdoors visit academy.com, facebook.com/academy, twitter.com/academy, pinterest.com/academy, youtube.com/academy and instagram.com/academy.
