Academy Sports + Outdoors said in a letter to customers that almost all of its stores and all three of its distribution centers remain open for business. The retailer said it has been determined to be an essential retailer by several CISA sector standards in part because the retailer’s products are used to counter the severe weather season in the southwest region.

In a letter sent March 30, Ken Hicks,
 Academy Sports’ chairman, president and CEO, wrote, “Academy Sports + Outdoors provides products that are essential to helping people not only during this pandemic but with general health and safety of residences, persons and pets.

“Those products include first aid supplies including first aid kits, trauma kits, clotting kits, snake bite kits and more; gloves in latex, rubber and suede; and food, water and nutrition products — academy.com/shop/browse/essential-products.”

Hicks’s statement added, “While COVID-19 is top-of-mind right now, it’s also Spring which means we are in peak severe weather season. We encourage customers to prepare with us.

“We have always been proud of how we support first responders and customers as they prepare for, and respond to, severe weather including tornados, hurricanes, high winds and flooding. Before and after weather events, we have learned to expect high demand for hardware including various tools, batteries, (auto and small home batteries), flashlights, generators, tires, ropes, shelters, grills, cooking fuel, and other items.

“Additionally, we continue to support many of our communities and first responders with items they need for their duties for this and other emergencies in your area.”

The letter noted that the retailer is taking a number of precautions to protect customers and employees in stores including:

  • Limiting the number of customers allowed in the store at one time;
  • Posting six-feet distance markers on the sidewalk in front of the store for customers waiting outside to get in;
  • Cleaning cart and handbasket handles before providing them to customers;
  • Offering curbside pickup service for online orders;
  • Enforcing distancing by opening only every other point-of-sale register, limiting lines and posting social distancing signs and floor markings in key areas throughout the store;
  • Providing hand sanitizer in the store and;
  • Modifying its store hours to allow extra time for store cleaning.

Hicks also said all store employees are “paid volunteers who want to serve their communities and customers during this pandemic.” They have been trained to follow the CDC guidelines for hygiene and safety and also have access to sick time should they feel ill.

Academy also noted that it’s taking actions to ensure it complies with federal, state, county and city restrictions, as appropriate, and a number of stores are temporarily closed and converted to curbside-pickup only.

At this time the stores listed below are open for curbside pick-up only:

Alabama

  • Auburn | 2325 Bent Creek Road,  Auburn, AL
  • Decatur |  1205 Wimberly Drive, Decatur, AL
  • Dothan | 3950 Montgomery Hwy., Dothan, AL
  • Florence 113 Cox Creek Pkwy.,  South Florence, AL
  • Foley-Orange Beach |  2410 S McKenzie Street,  Foley, AL
  • Huntsville | 2900 Memorial Parkway S.W., Huntsville, AL
  • Madison | 7506 Hwy. 72 West,  Madison, AL

Kentucky

  • Owensboro | 3051 Highland Pointe Dr. Owensboro, KY

Missouri

  • Columbia | 2651 Trimble Rd. Columbia, MO

Texas

  • Burleson | 12700 South Freeway, Burleson, TX
  • Cityview | 6101 I-20, Fort Worth, TX
  • Fort Worth, North | 5836 N Tarrant Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX
  • Fort Worth, West | 1701 S. Cherry Lane, Fort Worth, TX
  • North Richland Hills | 7441 NE Loop 820 North, Richland Hills, TX

Temporary Store Closures:

  • Apex | 1151 Pine Plaza Drive, Apex, NC
  • Tuscaloosa | 710 Skyland Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Waco | 210 N. New Road, Waco, TX

Academy has more than 250 stores. The full letter from Hicks is here.

Correction: Due to an editing error, an earlier post indicated that all three of its Washington, D.C. stores remain open. The article has been corrected to indicate that all three distribution centers remain open.

Photo courtesy Academy Sports + Outdoors