Columbia Sports Authority Now Closed

By SHERRI LONON and ELIZABETH JANNEY

Columbians used to getting their athletic goods at Sports Authority at The Mall in Columbia will need to find a new retailer for their gear.

The Sports Authority has shuttered its location off Little Patuxent Parkway, on the first floor of the mall near Nordstrom.

The closure, which occurred last week, comes as Sports Authority ends its plan to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, meaning its assets will be sold off to cover an estimated $1.1 billion in debt.

The retailer filed bankruptcy back in March, announcing at that time 140 stores which would close under plans to reorganize. The Columbia location at 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway was on the list.

Related: Sports Authority Closing List Includes Columbia Store

"We are committed to evolving as a company so we are able to continue to offer the best brands at great values—both in our stores and on our website, SportsAuthority.com," CEO Michael Foss wrote in a letter to customers back in March.

Those plans changed by the end of April. Forbes reported the Sports Authority has notified the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., of its inability to reorganize. The chain intends to put most of its assets up for auction on May 16, Forbes reported. While it is possible buyers could come forward with plans to keep some of the stores open, it is also feasible that all 450 stores will close down for good, Forbes reported.

Sports Authority has stores throughout Maryland, including in Catonsville, Laurel, White Marsh, Bowie, Gaithersburg, Waldorf, Frederick and Towson.

Leases at the Columbia and Waldorf stores were immediately put up for sale with the Chapter 11 filing in March, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The Sports Authority had not issued an official statement on its change of plans as of Monday morning. A phone message and email to Sports Authority for comment were not immediately returned.

Nationwide, the chain has 14,500 full- and part-time employees. The fate of those employees also remains unknown.

A hearing on whether or not the Sports Authority will be able to oversee its own liquidation or if it will be ordered into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, under which a court-appointed trustee will oversee liquidation, is set for Tuesday, the Denver Post reported.

The Columbia Sports Authority closed last week, Patch confirmed Monday morning. A new tenant has not been announced.

Sign up for the Columbia Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook too!

Columbia Sports Authority held clearance sales before closing at the end of April. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Janney.