Gartsports.com is one of the most recognized names in online sporting goods sales
Sports
Baseball , Basketball , Boating / Watersports , Camping/Hiking , Cycling , Electronics , Exercise , Fan Shop-Pro/College , Fishing , Football , Footwear , Games , Golf , Hockey-Ice/Roller , Hunting/Archery , In-Line Skating , Lacrosse , Optics / Telescopes , Outdoor Sports , Paintball/Airsoft , Patio/Deck Center , Racquetball/Squash , Running , Skateboarding , Skiing , Snowboarding , Soccer , Tennis ,
Badminton , Billiards , Bowling , Cheerleading , Cricket , Darts , Dodgeballs , Field Hockey , Figure Skating , Gymnastics , Handball , Home Gyms , Lacrosse , Netball , Patio/Deck Center , Physical Education , Racquetball/Squash , Roller Hockey , Rugby , Snow Sports , Sports Medicine , Sports Training , Swimming/Pools , Table Hockey , Table Tennis , Tanning Beds , Toys & Hobbies , Track & Field , Volleyball , Water Polo , Winter Recreation , Wrestling
Departments
Accessories , Apparel, Treadmills , Fun in the Sun , Basketball Systems , Fan Shop Memorabilia , Fun on Wheels , Fun on Wheels
The Gart Sports Story
For close to seventy years, the Gart name has been synonymous with the top tier of sporting goods retailers in the United States. The Gart tradition began in 1928 when The Denver Post newspaper carrier, Nathan Gart, started the company with $50 in fishing rod samples. Bringing the fun and excitement of sports to the communities we serve, our customers have recognized Gart Sports Company as a leader in providing wide assortments of the best brand name products available.
In 1971, Gart Sports Company opened it’s first “Superstore” with the opening of the world famous Sportscastle® Store in Denver. The decade of the “80’s” proved to be an exciting time for us as a company. During this period we grew through acquisition. In late 1986, we merged with Thrifty Corporation, a well known California corporation, to help provide the capital for our growth. As the decade proceeded, we acquired established names in the industry such as Hagan’s Sports Ltd. (1987), Stevens Brown of Salt Lake City (1987), and long time Denver area competitor Dave Cooks (1988). In the fall of 1992 Leonard Green & Partners acquired Thrifty, and in early 1994, while acquiring Payless Drug Stores, Leonard Green & Associates spun Gart Sports Company away from the Thrifty umbrella.
Also in 1971, at the same time Gart Sports opened the Sportscastle® , Sportmart opened its first store in Niles, IL and grew the company to where it was at the time of the Gart merger to 60 stores in 9 states. Initially, Sportmart faced the challenge of competing with specialty stores for dominance in the marketplace. With the combination of strong merchandise selection and value, Sportmart quickly emerged as a leader, in its own right, in the Sporting Goods industry by offering to customers everything the sporting enthusiast could want.
The combined Gart Sports and Sportmart stores will continue to offer high levels of customer service and strive to exceed customer expectations both in merchandise and service.
Responding to the changing shopping patterns of our customers, Gart Sports Company successfully operates mall stores, free standing stores and superstores that carry a broad merchandise assortment, and resort stores located in nationally recognized resort areas.
Date Added to Directory: 6/19/2002, Current Content: 10/12/2008, Days in Directory: 2307