Olympia Sports Opens In Sand Hill Plaza

By Kaaren Valenta

Olympia Sports has opened its 10th Connecticut store in the Sand Hill Plaza on Route 25.

The East Coast chain opened its Newtown location on October 17 in the storefront previously occupied by Avance Esthetiques, a day spa that moved to a larger location in the shopping center.

“We’ve got 80 stores from Maine southward and are still growing,” Manager Quincy Griffin said. “We have everything people need for sports – equipment, footwear, accessories.”

Name brand merchandise fills the store, which has continual sales. “There’s never a day without a sale,” Mr Griffin said. “Right now we are offering 20 percent off on all Nike products including those that are already on sale.”

Weight-lifting benches, weights, and other equipment is displayed in the center of the store. “We have tons of ab [abdominal] products – dollies, slides, rockets – we have them all and they are cheaper than the ones they sell on TV,” said Mike Masi, assistant manager.

Sportswear for men, women, and children are in the rear of the store. Besides tee-shirts, sweats, and team jerseys, there are windbreakers and winter coats. One wall is filled with displays of footwear.

There are toys including Flick Trick finger bikes and finger scooters, collectible trucks with team logos, and yo-yos. There also are scooters, rollerblades, and rollerblading equipment, including pads and helmets.

Items such as fleece sleeping bags, folding chairs,  racks of candy, and bottled water are tucked into spots between the other merchandise throughout the 5,600-square foot store.

“We carry a lot of seasonal merchandise,” Mr Masi said. “In the spring the store will be full of baseball equipment. Right now we are heading into winter sports.”

Mr Griffin stresses the store’s “nice, friendly service.”

“When customers shop here, we use the list to give 20-percent-off coupons for friends and families,” he said.

Olympia Sports is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 am to 9 pm; Sunday, from 11 to 6. The store’s telephone number is 270-0623.