Play It Again Sports, Mad Bear Open at Forum
by February 16, 2004 12:00 am 179 views
Jeff Newlin and Jeff Saylers, both of Springfield, Mo., opened a Play It Again Sports and Mad Bear Fitness “superstore” on Jan. 30 in 6,600 SF of space in Mathias Properties’ Shops at the Forum in Bentonville.
The two own the Play It Again Sports in Springfield, Mo. It’s the chain’s top-grossing store in North America. Newlin wouldn’t reveal the store’s sales figures, but Anne and Dean Mathias of Raleigh, N.C., told the Triangle Business Journal that their seven stores in that state bring in annual revenue of $600,000 to $1 million each. Minneapolis-based Play It Again Sports has more than 500 franchise stores worldwide.
The Bentonville store will be modeled after the 12,000-SF Springfield store Newlin and Saylers have owned for the past 11 years.
Play It Again Sports carries new and used products. It buys used equipment from the public and takes used equipment in trade.
Mad Bear Fitness is a specialty high-end supplier of exercise and fitness equipment. Newlin and Saylers purchased the Springfield-based company five years ago. Mad Bear serves residential, commercial and institutional customers, including high schools, police and fire departments, hotels and resorts.
Justin Gray of Fayetteville is manager of the Bentonville store.