6 TIMES • MAY 5, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com comings & goings Cash-strapped Sports Authority not shutting its Glendale store BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Sports Authority is down for the count, but not out. Recent reports from Fortune and other media outlets indicate that the sporting goods giant could close down all 463 locations nationwide — including two in Queens — in the near future, much more than the 140 locations they planned on closing back in March, but the company is refuting these claims. According to Sports Authority’s corporate customer service headquarters, the chain is not closing down all of its stores. The company will go forward with closing down a number of locations, but not all of them. Representatives of the store located at 73-25 Woodhaven Blvd. in Glendale also denied the claims, stating that the store is remaining open. The other Queens Sports Authority at 51-30 Northern Blvd. in Woodside will also remain in operation. Sports Authority fi led for Chapter 11 protection in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. Under this protection, Sports Authority planned to reorganize the company, but has since decided to put itself up for auction where almost all of its assets will be for sale, scheduled for Monday, May 16, according to Fortune. The auction could see interested buyers purchase certain Sports Authority locations, but it is unlikely that they would keep the brand name. The company’s fi nancial adviser told Bloomberg News that current takeover offers hardly cover the $100 million in administration and liquidation costs, let alone the $1.1 billion of debt Sports Authority owes. QNS/Photo by Anthony Giudice The ABC Superstore on Fresh Pond Road is closing. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice Sports Authority claims reports of the chain closing all 463 locations are false. Ridgewood Lucille Roberts gym is winding down BY KATARINA HYBENOVA khybenova@ridgewoodtimes.com @kamelka Queens women interested in staying healthy and in shape are losing two Lucille Roberts gyms. Members of Lucille Roberts locations at 55-05 Myrtle Ave. in Ridgewood and at 41-19 Bell Blvd. in Bayside received a letter stating that as of May 20, both locations will be closing. A Lucille Roberts employee told QNS on the phone that the lease of both locations are expiring and the rent is getting increased. It seems, however, the numbers simply aren’t adding up, and both gyms have to close, according to the employee. “I thought we were doing well, but I guess we’re not,” the employee said. Members of both locations received a free upgrade to platinum membership and are now able to use any gyms in New York and New Jersey. Members who wish to discontinue their memberships can call 212-734-9717 or do so on the Lucille Roberts website. The gym chain’s other Queens locations in Astoria, Flushing, Forest Hills and Jamaica are staying open. QNS has reached out to Lucille Roberts for a comment and is awaiting a response. ABC Superstore loses its lease for Fresh Pond shop in Ridgewood BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport A neighborhood staple is shutting down one of its location after it couldn’t reach a new lease deal with the landlord. ABC Superstore located at 66-73 Fresh Pond Rd. in Ridgewood is closing after a decade of serving the community. All other ABC locations, including its other Ridgewood store on Myrtle Avenue, will remain open. The site was previously Henry’s Department Store, which operated in the space for 25 years, until July 2005. Shortly thereafter, ABC Superstore opened. The discount chain sells men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, household items including furniture, carpets, towels, bedding and cooking utensils, as well as toys, games and luggage equipment. A representative from ABC Superstore confi rmed that this location is closing. The company could not come to an agreement on an extension with the landlord and have decided to part ways.
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