Elise Hasbrook

Texas-based Academy Sports + Outdoors is opening two stores in the Chattanooga area as the business grows in the Southeast.

Academy will open a 72,000-square-foot store in the former Circuit City space at The Terrace near Hamilton Place mall, said Elise Hasbrook, the company’s senior communications manager.

The company’s second store will be a 66,000-square-foot anchor in a new shopping center going up on Highway 153 and Pine Marr Road in Hixson, she said.

The stores are expected to employ 100 people each and open next summer.

John Hay, the company’s vice president of real estate, said the Chattanooga market provides another opportunity to expand its footprint.

He said Academy officials believe customers in Chattanooga “will embrace our comprehensive sports, outdoors and lifestyle product offering.”

David Neuhoff, development manager for CBL & Associates Properties Inc., said Academy is a growing company.

“It’s a sports enthusiast’s paradise of name brands at an affordable price,” he said.

CBL purchased the former Circuit City building and is leasing it to Academy.

Jeff Jennings of NAI Charter Real Estate Co. said Orix Capital Markets sold to CBL the building that serviced Circuit City until the electronics retailer went out of business earlier this year.

“It is remarkable to see that Chattanooga can still land large retailers in this struggling economy,” he said. “Not many cities are accomplishing this right now.”

Greg Blosser, of a Barnesville, Ga., firm developing the Hixson shopping center, said that area isn’t being served with the products which will be in the Academy store.

Mr. Blosser said Academy will be an anchor in the 180,000-square-foot first phase of the shopping center known as the Fountains of North Chattanooga. Phase two will be about the same size, he said.

“It’s an underserved market,” he said.

Because the business is privately held, Ms. Hasbrook declined to say how much Academy is investing in the project or the retailer’s annual sales.

ABOUT ACADEMY

* Academy Sports + Outdoors has 120 stores in 11 states.

* Offers a wide range of camping, fishing and other sports goods and apparel.