INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — They started lining up at midnight, ready to be the first to get inside the new Sports Authority on State Road 60 near the Indian River Mall. By the time the store opened shortly before 8 a.m., the line had grown to more than 300 people.
“Got to be first,” Terry Felvus said.
He, his brother, Charles, and two friends brought an RV to break up the monotony of standing in line.
The friends, Darren Warmuth and John Conner, came out with the Felvuses, to score deals on softball and golf gear – and a chance to win prizes.
Behind them in line was Terry Mann, who got there at 2:30 a.m.
“Two Mountain Dews and a bag of Doritos and I was good,” he said.
His wife, Sarah, and daughters Trinity, 7, and Natalie, 6, joined him shortly before the store opened.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Mann said of Sports Authority moving in. “Vero’s needed a big sporting goods store a long time.”
Steve Sodemann, community marketing manager for Sports Authority, said he was pleased with the size of the crowd gathered outside the store.
“You never know what to expect,” he said. “It’s great to see the community involved, that they’re here.”
The approximately 34,000-square-foot store employs more than 40 people.
Indian River County Chamber of Commerce President Penny Chandler said that it is nice to have a store such as Sports Authority move in and provide jobs. She added some of those jobs could lead to a career in retail, noting her father started his retail career working for Sears.
The line of people stretched the length of Sports Authority, from the doors, down past PetSmart, and along the perimeter of the parking lot out to State Road 60.
Chandler said the turnout was more than what is typically seen on Black Friday – the start of the holiday shopping season.
Just before opening the doors, Sports Authority, Chamber and Indian River County officials cut the ribbon and Sports Authority presented two $2,500 checks to the Hibiscus Children’s Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Indian River County.
“We’re happy to be here in Vero Beach,” Sodemann told the crowd. “And we look forward to many years here.”
Sports Authority is located in the former Circuit City building, 6560 20th Street. The hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.