Photo by Sydney Fagen

Jackson and Hudson Hubbard test out Academy’s golf clubs.

On Aug. 29 Academy Sports and Outdoors opened its newest store here in Auburn at 2325 Bent Creek Road next to Sam’s Club. The store has an 8,500 square foot sales floor that is packed with merchandise. It features a wide array of sporting goods ranging from golf clubs to exercise equipment to waterskis. Academy also offers athletic accessories such as shoes and clothing. 

Academy boasts that it is the third largest footwear dealer in the nation. This is apparent upon entering the new store, which has more than 20 aisles of shoes for athletic, dress and work purposes. The selection includes brands like Sperry, Skechers, Nike, Timberline, Wolverine and Adidas. 

Academy also offers clothes for almost any shopper. The store carries brands like Under Armour, Soffee, BCG, Levi and Wrangler. Academy also carries officially licensed college merchandise so shoppers can support their favorite team.

The new store opened just in time for hunting season and features a variety of firearms. Academy offers an assortment of handguns including brands like Glock, Taurus, Smith and Wesson, Springfield and Ruger. It carries rifles and shotguns and features such brands as Mossberg, Remington, Henry and Yildiz. According to a sales representative, Academy is the only importer of Yildiz firearms in the nation. The store offers crossbows and compound bows at competitive prices. Academy also carries tree stands and deer feeders to completely outfit any hunter for the season. Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased on location.

Manager Chris Thomason explained that the store has seen a great reception from the community.

When asked why Academy decided to build a store in Auburn Thomason replied, “We’ve wanted to for a while. We’ve waited for the population to grow to support this size store.” 

Thomason also explained that Academy has had great success in the face of competitors like Wal-Mart because of the extensive variety of the products the store carries.

“We don’t have a little bit of everything we have a lot of everything,” explained Thomason.  “A lot of our stores sit in the shadow of Wal-Mart and do quite well.” 

Thomason noted that Academy satisfies their customers by carrying items year-round, while most competitors only carry items seasonally.

Academy has already received a warm welcome from the city and has made itself quite at home. The corporate office recently donated $6,000 to the Auburn City Parks and Recreation Department for the repair of local sports fields.

While the store has been open for business since August, the grand opening celebration will be held Sep. 13. The celebration will feature demo performances by WKA Mixed Martial Arts champion Cole Miller as well as prize give-aways inluding a five-day cruise, tickets to the Auburn vs. Tennessee game and a tailgating package. Hats and T-shirts will be given away to the first 7,500 attendants. Academy will also be serving free hotdogs and soda.

Academy Sports and Outdoors is opened Monday through Friday. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.