SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A longtime North Park business has been forced to shutter its doors due to the economic toll of the pandemic.
A&B Sporting Goods has sat on University Ave. for 79 years. The business told ABC 10News that it thrives off of local youth sports, which have largely been canceled this year due to the coronavirus.
Owner Greg Schloss, whose father and grandfather worked at the store before him, said he hadn't planned on closing shop, but could not keep the business going any longer.
"I've worked here 40 years. The neighborhood is driven by a lot of kids playing ball in this neigborhood. And at the moment, for the past sever, eight, nine months, there's no kids playing any organized sports," Schloss said.
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As for himself, Schloss said he's not ready to retire and he's hoping some of his longtime customers may be able to help him find a new job.
In a Facebook post, the shop told fans they will close as of the end of the year and thanked the community for its support over nearly eight decades.
"It is with heavy heart that we announce that A&B Sporting Goods is closing shop as of the end of the year. We cannot thank our friends enough for your ongoing support. We were so fortunate to be part of the North Park community for so many decades. There was never anything better than your kids coming in every year to pick up their North Park Little League apparel and equipment," a Facebook post on the store's site read.
Shoppers are also encouraged to stop in and shop over the next month. The store's social post added that everything will be sold and reasonable offers for merchandise will be accepted.
