What Big 5 Sporting Goods is known for
American discount sporting-goods chain founded September 1955 by Maurie Liff, Harry Liff and Robert Miller as United Merchandising Corp, opening five Southern California stores selling army-surplus goods; renamed Big 5 Sporting Goods in December 1963.
Big 5 Sporting Goods traces back to September 1955, when Maurie I. Liff, Harry A. Liff and Robert W. Miller founded United Merchandising Corp. and opened five stores under the name Big 5 Stores. In its early years the chain sold World War II army-surplus goods, tents and air mattresses it manufactured itself, along with housewares and hand tools. As sporting goods became the company's strongest category, management renamed the chain Big 5 Sporting Goods in December 1963. By March 1971 it had grown to 19 stores and was acquired by Thrifty Drug Stores. Big 5 has continued operating as a value-priced sporting-goods retailer across the western United States.
Best for — Discount sporting goods
Global
Where next
- Abercrombie — United States
- ACE Hardware — United States
- Alden — United States
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