New Owner Opens Sports Hut In Plymouth

Sports Hut owner Pete Eiden knows life can throw you curve balls.

He also knows you can turn those into home runs.

At age 33, Eiden was diagnosed with heart disease and needed a transplant to survive. In 1995, he started his own business called Healthy Heart Market, an online source to find and buy low-sodium food.

During the nine years running his own business to help others be healthy, Eiden was on a transplant list. He sold the business in 2004 when he became too sick to continue.

A year later, he received a heart. After the transplant, he took two years to recover while he also served as a substitute teacher. Out of the blue, he discovered another business opportunity with the Sports Hut. It's a family-owned business founded in the 1970s in Wayzata, which moved around the area and into Plymouth.

"When it last closed it was abruptly, but it was a combination of things—the perfect storm," Eiden said. "The move from Wayzata with the recession hitting and a number of things just didn't work out at the time."

Eiden said the Sports Hut has always been independently owned and not a part of a franchise or bigger company. It has had several owners and this is the first time Eiden has owned it.

Earlier this year Eiden bought the assets, but not the stock or inventory of Sports Hut and has been working hard to have the place stocked and open at a new location on Plymouth Blvd off Highway 55, in the city's bustling business center.

"We wanted a visible location and needed to find a place big enough," Eiden said. "There is a great demographic in need of ski and bike equipment in this area."

Eiden describes the Sports Hut as a full bicycle shop in the summer and a great spot for ski and winter recreational equipment in the winter. Sports Hut sells winter skis, snowboards, bicycles, skate boards, additional recreational support equipment and outdoor clothing. Full-service ski and snow board tuning and waxing and bicycle maintenance also are available by experienced and expert staff.

But for someone who hasn't owned his own business for a while, how does he plan to succeed in a recovering economy? Being in the sports equipment niche is the key to success in Eiden's mind.

"Coming out of a recession, there is a pent-up demand for our goods as people have been holding off on buying these items and are in need of them now," Eiden said.

The early season for ski sales are up nationally. This is an opportunity to start over for Sports Hut and grow the business, he said.

Growing this small business takes strength, a good history, superb service and products, which Eiden said is found with Sports Hut.

Eiden has 15 employees with a full-time ski buyer who worked at Sports Hut at its previous locations and a snowboard buyer who comes from Hoigaards.

He also has a technology and service manager and bicycle and ski mechanic; both were employed at the previous Sports Huts. The remaining Sports Hut staff work part time in sales, customer service and merchandising.

The Sports Hut had a soft opening in late October, but its grand opening is this weekend Saturday, Nov. 5, and Sunday, Nov. 6. During this event, there will be manufacturers talking about the products that are sold at the Sports Hut and available to answer questions about the differences and nuances of each product. There will also be door prizes like a drawing for Vikings and Gopher football tickets.

"When you come to the Sports Hut to shop you are supporting a community business where everything stays in the community," Eiden said. "We hope to participate in community events and be a part of Plymouth for local events and groups."

So far small business has been a home run for Eiden that he has put his heart into. He hopes that owning a small business can be a success for others who step up to the plate. But he does have some advice for beginners.

"Be aware of what the workload," Eiden said. "I've been living on five hours of sleep for the last three weeks."

The Brooklyn Center native lived in Plymouth for eight years with his family, but they have since moved to Corcoran. He has three children in high school, middle school and elementary school.