Big 5’s sporty opening

Fallon shoppers get ready for the grand opening of the Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Wednesday.

Store Manager Ryan Pedroza said there will be two openings for the store with a soft opening today from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. and the grand opening Wednesday at 10 a.m.

“The soft opening will allow our employees the opportunity to get use to the cash registers and working with customers,” Pedroza said. “At the grand opening, we will be raffling off items and giveaways. One of the items we’ll be raffling off is a tennis (ping pong) table which holds a $600 value.”

Other items to be raffled off at the grand opening include the following: Men’s golf package, gravity inversion system, steel belted cooler, camp burner stove, adult airsoft rifle, metal detector, sunglasses, bicycle, helmet and neoprene gloves.

Big 5 Regional Supervisor Dennis Quon said the franchise conducted a zip code survey and found a trend.

“The zip code survey allows the stores to see where their clients are coming from,” Quon said. “We found out with that survey that there was a market for our store in Fallon. We believe that the store will be successful here, and we think there is a strong market for our items.”

According to the company’s website, Big 5 Sporting Goods is one of America’s top retailers of name brand sporting goods and accessories. There are 425 locations spread throughout 12 western states. The store provides a full line of products in a traditional sporting goods store format that averages approximately 11,000 square feet. The stores product mix includes athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, as well as a broad selection of outdoor and athletic equipment for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting, fishing, tennis, golf, snowboarding and in-line skating.

Quon said the store hired about 18 local employees and transferred two managers from the surrounding area.

Pedroza said he was one of the managers that was transferred to Fallon.

“I came from the store in Carson City as a first assistant manager,” Pedroza said. “I have been with the Big 5 for seven and a half years now. I was offered a promotion to become a manager and run my own store, so I decided to take the opportunity and that brought me to Fallon.”

Quon said that the store will have benefits for youth sports programs. He said the rebate program allows groups to purchase items for their program, and at the end of the earning period the group will receive a check for 5 percent of their total sales for their organization.

Quon said the store will also advertise weekly deals.

“Every week there will be new deals,” Quon said. “We’re hoping that our advertising will be able to reach the surrounding communities as well.”

Quon said he is excited for the grand opening of the store, for the residents of Fallon to be welcomed by the smiling faces of Big 5 employees and the great customer service that will be provided.

Store hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.–7 p.m.