Red Deer’s two Sport Mart stores will be among the victims of a corporate restructuring by sporting goods giant FGL Sports.
The former Forzani Group Ltd., which is now owned by Canadian Tire Corp., announced three weeks ago that it plans to focus on its Sport Chek and Atmosphere banners. This will include the addition of more than 100 Sport Chek and Atmosphere stores across Canada over the next five years.
The company also said it would be closing “under-performing, non-strategic corporate banners,” including its stand-alone Sport Mart, Athletes World, Nevada Bob’s Golf, Hockey Experts, Fitness Source and Econosports stores, or converting them into Sport Chek or Atmosphere outlets. In total, 115 stores will be closed, with about 20 of these to undergo conversions.
The conversions will be in addition to the 100-plus new stores.
There are Sport Mart stores in Red Deer at 6320 Gaetz Ave. and 2325 Gaetz Ave. An FGL Sports official confirmed on Wednesday that both will close, although the timelines were not immediately available.
An earlier news release by Canadian Tire and FGL Sports said all closures would be completed by the first quarter of 2013.
The Sport Chek store in Parkland Mall and the Atmosphere store in Southpointe Common will not be affected by the changes, said the FGL official.