Big 5 In Murrieta: City's Sporting Goods Retailer Still Stands

MURRIETA, CA — There are no signs that Big 5 on Madison Avenue is planning to leave Murrieta, which is a good thing for some because it's the only big-box brick-and-mortar sporting goods retailer left in the city.

During an earnings call Tuesday, the company announced its fiscal 2022 second-quarter earnings results. Steven G. Miller, Big 5’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a released statement, "We ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet and a healthy inventory position. Over the course of the pandemic, we have enhanced and evolved our model and emerged a stronger company. Looking at the back half of the year, Big 5 remains in a great position with its efficient model to continue to achieve solid operating results during a period of tremendous economic challenges.”

Companywide, Big 5 Sporting Goods' net sales for the fiscal 2022 second quarter were $253.8 million compared to net sales of $326 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The year-over-year decrease was attributed to the strong demand for sporting goods during the COVID-19 2021 reopening, according to Miller.

However, compared to the second quarter of 2019, net sales increased 3.9 percent, which set a record.

"Compared to pre-pandemic second quarter periods, fiscal 2022 second-quarter earnings were the highest in the company’s history," according to Big 5.

See the company's full fiscal 2022 second quarter earning results here.

While online shopping has bitten brick-and-mortar sales across all retail sectors, not everyone is ready to close shop and go virtual.

Big 5 currently has 431 stores in operation, including the Murrieta location at 25274 Madison Avenue. During fiscal 2022, Big 5 expects to open approximately three stores and close approximately two stores, including one relocation, according to the company.

It's not clear where the openings, closures and relocation will be, but there was no indication the Murrieta store would disappear. During Tuesday's call, Miller and Big 5 Chief Financial Officer Barry Emerson stressed that California is a key market for the company but warned the state is still seeing COVID-19 spread that affects store staffing and forces temporary closures. Recession fears among shoppers and some supply chain issues are other factors affecting the company's bottom line, according to Miller.

Murrieta residents looking to shop in person for sporting goods in the city know there isn't much to choose from.

Earlier this year, another big-box sporting goods retailer, Dick's, left the city and headed to Temecula.

There are some Murrieta retailers that fall into the outdoor sporting goods category, such as Sportsman's Warehouse on Madison Avenue, but the inventory leans heavily toward hunters, campers and fishing enthusiasts.

Some boutique stores are open in the city, like G.O.A.T. Pro Shop on California Oaks Road, which caters to bowlers, and there is an assortment of bike shops like Alan's Bike Shop on California Oaks Road, Jax Bicycle Center on Margarita Road, and Stage 2 Cyclery on Kalmia Street.

But for parents of little leaguers, Pop Warner players, and soccer and track stars, there is little to choose from for in-person shopping, although Walmart and Target — both with Murrieta locations — compete for those dollars.

Remember when Big 5 Sporting Goods sales could pack a parking lot? Maybe the long lines are in the rearview mirror, but all is not gone in Murrieta. One big-box sporting goods store still stands.