Sport Chalet
Encyclopedia
Sport Chalet operates 52 owned stores in Southern & Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, and most recently in Utah (with its store at Jordan Landing
). Most stores are over 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) in size, with many including dive pools and offering SCUBA
classes. Sport Chalet stores usually feature large apparel and footwear departments complemented by an array of specialized departments and sections.
. To initially stock the store with ski gear, the couple took out a $5,000 loan and borrowed money from a relative and some employees.
Early on, Sport Chalet stocked products that few other stores sold, such as scuba and mountain-climbing gear. When surfing
became popular in the early 1960s, the store began carrying longboards and wetsuits.
Sport Chalet grew piecemeal in La Cañada along Foothill Boulevard
. Olberz converted a former grocery store into a full-line sporting goods store and an old furniture store became the ski shop. He also converted a gas station into a ski rental shop and opened a golf store down the street. Sport Chalet's location is about one block southeast of the intersection with Angeles Crest Highway
, a major route into the San Gabriel Mountains.
The company opened its second store in 1981 in Huntington Beach, CA. By the mid-1980s, the company had expanded to have stores throughout Southern California
. Sport Chalet has been publicly traded on the NASDAQ
exchange since 1992.
Norbert Olberz died in La Cañada Flintridge on 15 July 2011.
In 1998, Olberz gave $1.5 million in stock to 109 employees who had been with the company for at least 10 years.
The company was the title sponsor of the "U.S.B.A. California Regional Tour." The tour was a collection of three events that were sanctioned by the United States Bodyboarding Association, that took place at different Southern California beaches - events ran between June 7, 2008 and November 9, 2008.
Following the January, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Sport Chalet, in conjunction with Soles 4 Souls, began accepting donations of gently worn shoes at all their locations until January 31, 2010.
They collected almost 1 million pairs of shoes in 2 weeks.
Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing is a master-planned development located in the center of West Jordan, Utah, adjacent to South Valley Regional Airport. Its 500 acre size, containing of retail space, 1,200 residential units, and of office space, places it as a focal point of West Jordan's booming economy.It is one...
). Most stores are over 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) in size, with many including dive pools and offering SCUBA
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
classes. Sport Chalet stores usually feature large apparel and footwear departments complemented by an array of specialized departments and sections.
History
Sport Chalet was founded on April 1, 1959 by Norbert Olberz and his wife Irene, who bought a ski and tennis shop in La Cañada Flintridge, CaliforniaLa Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
. To initially stock the store with ski gear, the couple took out a $5,000 loan and borrowed money from a relative and some employees.
Early on, Sport Chalet stocked products that few other stores sold, such as scuba and mountain-climbing gear. When surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
became popular in the early 1960s, the store began carrying longboards and wetsuits.
Sport Chalet grew piecemeal in La Cañada along Foothill Boulevard
Foothill Boulevard (Southern California)
Foothill Boulevard is a major road in the city and county of Los Angeles, as well as an arterial road in the city and county of San Bernardino, stretching well over 60 miles in length, with some notable breaks along the route...
. Olberz converted a former grocery store into a full-line sporting goods store and an old furniture store became the ski shop. He also converted a gas station into a ski rental shop and opened a golf store down the street. Sport Chalet's location is about one block southeast of the intersection with Angeles Crest Highway
Angeles Crest Highway
The Angeles Crest Highway is a two-lane segment of California State Route 2 in the United States. The road is in length, with its western terminus at the intersection at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge and its eastern terminus at State Route 138 northeast of Wrightwood...
, a major route into the San Gabriel Mountains.
The company opened its second store in 1981 in Huntington Beach, CA. By the mid-1980s, the company had expanded to have stores throughout Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Sport Chalet has been publicly traded on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
exchange since 1992.
Norbert Olberz died in La Cañada Flintridge on 15 July 2011.
Corporate Environment
Sport Chalet prides itself by employing well trained and knowledgeable employees who have extensive knowledge and/or experience in their respective departments, leading to one of the companies slogans 'The Experts'. Sport Chalet is one of the few major sporting goods retailers to focus on a broad array of more specialized sports, including kayaking, SCUBA diving, mountain climbing, canyoneering, and other extreme sports. Sport Chalet additionally uses the slogan "We'll Take You to The Limit".In 1998, Olberz gave $1.5 million in stock to 109 employees who had been with the company for at least 10 years.
The company was the title sponsor of the "U.S.B.A. California Regional Tour." The tour was a collection of three events that were sanctioned by the United States Bodyboarding Association, that took place at different Southern California beaches - events ran between June 7, 2008 and November 9, 2008.
Following the January, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Sport Chalet, in conjunction with Soles 4 Souls, began accepting donations of gently worn shoes at all their locations until January 31, 2010.
They collected almost 1 million pairs of shoes in 2 weeks.