Academy Sports & Outdoors

The chief executive of Academy Sports + Outdoors is leaving to pursue “another opportunity.”

Knoebel Construction announced it has completed the 270,000 sq.-ft. Shoppes at Mid Rivers in St. Peters, Missouri, across the highway from Mid Rivers Mall.

Three restaurants and a hotel claimed four of the seven new out-parcels The Market at Czech Hall in Oklahoma City.   Developer GBT Realty announced that Hooters, Arby’s, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, and Sleep Inn have signed leases at the 160,000-sq.-ft. “regional neighborhood center” on Interstate 40.  

Chain Store Age announced the selection of the Advisory Board for SPECS/2018, the annual retail event produced by CSA and attended by retail and food-service executives who plan, design, build, and maintain stores and restaurants nationwide.     Now in its 54th year, SPECS will host its 2018 conference in Dallas, at the Gaylord Texan, March 18-20. The event will focus on what’s next, and what is shaping the future of physical retail.  

Prestige Development Group is about to break ground on a 171,027-sq.-ft. shopping center in Abilene, Texas.   Nearly 85% of The Shops at Abilene Village are pre-leased by a tenant lineup that includes Burlington, Petco, and Academy Sports + Outdoors. It will be the first store in the Abilene market for Burlington, and Academy is relocating from a 50,000-sq.-ft. location to claim 72,000 sq. ft.in of space at The Shops.  

Academy Sports + Outdoors is bolstering its executive team.   The sporting good chain appointed Sam Johnson as its executive VP of retail operations, effective April 24. In his new role, Johnson will oversee the day-to-day operations of Academy's more than 225 stores, as well as lead the store support team.  

The first phase of Fairfield Town Center in northwest Houston is nearing completion and should be fully operational by Black Friday, promises owner Washington Prime Group, formerly WP Glimcher.   Already open and operating at the 600,000-sq.-ft. development are HEB, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Chick-fil-A, and McDonalds, among several others. The fully populated center will include Marshalls/Homegoods, Ulta, Chipotle, and Dress Barn.  

Top Walmart executive Michelle Gloeckler, who landed 38th on Fortune’s list of most powerful women last year, will leave Bentonville to take over as executive VP and chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors.