The SGB Retail Top 100 list has had its years of change in the past – due mostly to mergers and acquisitions of late – but this year marks the exit of one iconic retailer in 2008 and another that saw its last entry in 2009.  The turmoil of the last year has certainly had its impact on the retailers in the market, but there were as many opportunities as challenges this year. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods once again took the top spot for full-line sporting goods stores – though the gap with arch-nemesis The Sports Authority narrowed just a tad.  Dick’s Sporting Goods has tempered store opening plans for this year after growing square footage in the double-digits again in 2008, but The Sports Authority has taken a more aggressive approach to the new stores as well, adding a net increase of 29 stores, including 11 stores in one day in August last year. 

The mall, for the most part, is a place that has been getting healthier after years of rapid expansion and the eventual bursting of the retail real estate bubble.  The main players are all limiting store growth, instead focusing on expense controls and the renegotiation of leases when available.  There are some estimates that as much as 40% of the mall athletic specialty stores could be renegotiated, remodeled, re-named or shuttered this year.

Jimmy Jazz, the New York-based urban retailer, posted the highest growth percentage for 2008 as they continue their rapid expansion into Florida and the Southeast and Midwest regions.  Jazz shows no sign of slowing down in 2009 after just completing a deal through an affiliated business to take the Man Alive stores from The Finish Line – a transaction that could add another 75 doors to the retailer’s portfolio.  The rest of the top high fliers in revenue growth owed their growth to the red-hot Internet business or specialty retail as Backcountry.com, Athleta, Lululemon, and Zappos.com rounded out the top five growth stories of the year.

Still, the tough business environment – particularly at retail – took its toll as dozens of small specialty shops disappeared from the landscape.  The pain wasn’t reserved for the small guy though, as Sportsman’s Warehouse was forced to shutter or sell a large number of stores and Joe’s Sports & Outdoors made it through the year only to find its 31 stores liquidated by the time this list went to print.  Joe’s made it onto the SGB Top 100 list for one last time, if only to better express the opportunity that awaits other retailers in the Northwest.