Retail Non-Fail = Retail Win: City Sports to Open in DTSS

The wait to find out what would replace the Pier 1 didn't last very long: the word on the street is that the home goods store will be supplanted by Boston-based sporting goods retailer City Sports. Personally, I think this is a significant upgrade from Pier 1 in the sense that I will actually buy things from City Sports, whereas I wouldn't be very likely to do so from Pier 1. The store was high on my (admittedly unfinished) list of Bethesda businesses I'd like to see in Silver Spring.

From a June 2010 post, which is still valid (just replace "Stephen Strasburg" with "Bryce Harper"):

I just noticed for the first time last week that downtown Bethesda now has a City Sports store. How is that downtown Bethesda has two sporting goods stores (they also have a Modell’s) while Silver Spring has zero? Are you telling me that downtown Silver Spring can’t support a proper sporting goods store?

I recently wanted to purchase some new gym clothes and had to travel all the way up to the Target and Kohl’s in SSINO to find what I needed. Side note: I love the fact that that if you Google the phrase “Sporting Goods Silver Spring”, Atlantic Guns is the top result.

Sure, there’s a Pacer’s Running Store in Silver Spring, but their inventory is limited to merchandise for a single sport. Where does one go around here if they want to purchase a soccer ball or perhaps a Stephen Strasburg jersey? Bethesda, I suppose.

Of course, one store being "better" than another is purely subjective and based on individuals' purchasing preferences, but the good news here is that reportedly Pier 1 is looking to relocate elsewhere in downtown Silver Spring, so maybe this could turn out to be a win-win for everyone. (Where exactly they would move to, I'm not sure. Shitty Place, perhaps?)

The moral of the story is that while businesses may leave, in many instances their departure can open the door for a preferred business to replace it. The failure of the Fractured Prune last year ultimately paved the way for the addition of FroZenYo, which I have patronized many more times than the single instance I bought donuts from the Fractured Prune.

Let's all just be thankful it wasn't another cell phone store. Once those are in, you aren't getting them out.