Parkville Sporting Goods Store Closing

PARKVILLE, Md. — Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came

No, this isn’t a sing-a-long to the theme song of “Cheers” which aired from 1982-1993 on NBC.

This is the likeness that comes to mind when thinking about Fast Break Sports.

After 30 years of business, the sporting goods store will be closing its doors.

The store's last day in operation will be January 31, 2019. Credit card transactions will be accepted until on December 21.Cash transactions will be accepted through January before closing the doors for good at the end of the month.

Nancy Gross, the store owner, said the decision was made after her two partners want to retire.

“It’s time," said Gross, 63. ”Sandy, Bob, and I are the only ones in the store. Sandy is 66, Bob is 64, and my mom is 94 years old.”

During the final days of Fast Break Sports, it has been business as usual.

A longtime friend of Nancy Gross, former teacher at Parkville High School, and frequent store visitor Karen Berkley said she has mixed emotions about the store’s closure.

“I am happy for [them] because retirement is awesome but I am sad for the community. Their store was so much more than merchandise,” she said. “It truly was like Cheers. Shopping was almost like an afterthought when you went there. Socializing and catching up came first.”

Fast Break Sports is a small business with quality products and dependable customer service. They specialize in athletic wear, embroidery & screen-printed apparel. They are able to handle both small and bulk orders. For years, Fast Break Sports supplied uniforms for Parkville High School athletics and a lot of other public schools in the area. In addition to athletic apparel, they carry an assortment of sporting goods and approved safety equipment. However, they specialize in Lacrosse and Field Hockey equipment.

The experience at Fast Break Sports was truly a unique one. Berkley fondly recalls.

“She [Nancy] must have had 12 birds and at least 3 dogs in the store every day,” Berkley said. “It was like a petting zoo because customers would stop in just for them [the animals].”

Above all, Gross said she wants Fast Break Sports to be remembered as a welcoming place where customers walk away with smiles on their faces.

Gross said she will miss her customers the most.

“For sure, my customers. They aren’t just customers, they’re family.”

Speaking of family, Gross says that all of the pictures that occupy the walls inside the store will be displayed the same way in her home. These pictures include friends from high school and college and former players that she coached.

“That’s what you do with family pictures.” she says

After 30 years and hundreds upon thousands of customers, here’s to you, Fast Break Sports.

Cheers!