CULLMAN – Academy Sports + Outdoors will not build a store in Cullman. The company cited a change in national corporate strategy as the reason for the decision.
“We are disappointed that Academy ultimately decided not to pursue a store in Cullman. We put our best foot forward in recruiting them to our community,” said Cullman Economic Development Agency Project Coordinator Susan Eller.
“Retail recruitment is extremely competitive as we are competing against not just cities in Alabama but across the country. In Academy’s case their national corporate strategy changed so opening the Cullman store was no longer in their plans, which is not a reflection on Cullman but rather an example of how the national retail trends can change very rapidly,” said Eller. “During our due diligence period we conducted a case study to ensure the supply met the demand in our market. For a town our size we have been blessed with recruitment success over the last few years and we are confident we will continue to provide an environment conducive to a healthy retail community.”
Academy announced plans in January 2017 to build a 62,000-square-foot facility on an 8-acre lot on Lee Avenue in southwest Cullman, with an $8 million capital investment.
The Cullman City Council in March 2017 agreed to offer Academy financial incentives of up to $800,000 over the first eight years the company’s store operated in Cullman. The sporting goods retailer had predicted the store would create 100 new jobs and generate $12 million in sales per year. In April of this year, construction on the project was postponed until July 2020.
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