Sports Authority in Levittown to Close: Reports

Sports Authority, the popular national retail chain for new and used sports equipment, will close all of its more than 450 locations across the country, including eight Long Island locations, as part of a bankruptcy filing, according to multiple reports.

The sports retailer filed for Chapter 11 in March and is carrying over $1 billion in debt, according to Forbes, who broke the story Sunday night, and has decided to liquidate all assets and pursue a sale. The company employs more than 14,500 people.

Sports Authority's initial plan as part of the bankruptcy was to close just 140 of its stores across the country (including Commack, Garden City, Riverhead and Stony Brook) to trim down. Instead, reports say, it will shutter all of its stores on Long Island and across the country and look to sell off all of its assets completely.

Now, all eight Sports Authority Long Island locations are expected to close:

• 124 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack
• 950 Old Country Road in Garden City
• 1160 Old Country Road in Riverhead
• 2110 Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook
• 5151 Sunrise Highway in Bohemia
• 5234 Sunrise Highway in Massapequa
• 3505 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown
• 1230 Old Country Road in Westbury

There is no word on when the stores will be shuttering, but customers can expect heavy discounts in the near future on everything from team apparel to sports equipment.

A phone call and email to Sports Authority from Patch seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Forbes reported the possibility remains of a buyer emerging and keeping some locations open.

Sports Authority faces stiff competition from other major retailers such as Dick's Sporting Goods and Modell's.

The company said earlier this year that it had missed a $20 million debt payment. A $300 million payment is due in May 2017,according to BusinessInsider.com.

Sports Authority is headquartered in Englewood, CO, and has stores in 41 states. Its first location was opened in 1987 in Lauderdale Lakes, FL.

Photo: Google Maps

Story by Marc Torrence