After nearly a century of doing business in Ambridge, the borough’s oldest operating store is permanently closing its doors at the end of the month.
Sols at 601 Merchant St. is currently promoting a liquidation sale on all of its sporting goods and equipment storewide.
Co-owner Jim Neft said the sale will continue as long as the store is operating. He expects to remain open for just a few more weeks before BSN Sports, a national company headquartered in Dallas, takes over operations.
Neft said he feels this was the time to sell.
“We’re not going to get rich, but it was a good time to get out,” said Neft, who began working for the store in 1972.
BSN Sports, a distributor of team sports apparel and equipment in the United States, is setting up operations in the Pittsburgh area. He said the company plans to open a BSN showroom in Robinson Township and has bought out Sols. The former Sols building in Ambridge is up for sale by the owners.
BSN was founded in 1972 as a factory-direct equipment company, and now operates in 40 offices through 250 local sales representatives nationwide, according to the company’s website.
Five of Sols' former employees have found jobs with BSN.
Once supplying everything from bicycles and toys to gun sales, Sols over the years got out of selling certain items for one reason or another.
In 1929, Neft’s father, Harry, opened the original Sols at 633 Merchant St. The family business relocated in 1964 and again in June 1975 to its warehouse after Sols burned in a suspicious fire. Sols has remained in its present location ever since.
The store still carries sporting goods—mostly football, baseball and basketball items—and has developed plenty of faithful customers.
“I’m going to miss all the customers,” Neft said. “I had a lot of long-term customers.”
Customers can still find deals during the liquidation sale. Store hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Will you miss Sols? Tell us in the comments section.
Like Ambridge Connection on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Co-owner Jim Neft said the sale will continue as long as the store is operating. He expects to remain open for just a few more weeks before BSN Sports, a national company headquartered in Dallas, takes over operations.
Neft said he feels this was the time to sell.
“We’re not going to get rich, but it was a good time to get out,” said Neft, who began working for the store in 1972.
BSN Sports, a distributor of team sports apparel and equipment in the United States, is setting up operations in the Pittsburgh area. He said the company plans to open a BSN showroom in Robinson Township and has bought out Sols. The former Sols building in Ambridge is up for sale by the owners.
BSN was founded in 1972 as a factory-direct equipment company, and now operates in 40 offices through 250 local sales representatives nationwide, according to the company’s website.
Five of Sols' former employees have found jobs with BSN.
Once supplying everything from bicycles and toys to gun sales, Sols over the years got out of selling certain items for one reason or another.
In 1929, Neft’s father, Harry, opened the original Sols at 633 Merchant St. The family business relocated in 1964 and again in June 1975 to its warehouse after Sols burned in a suspicious fire. Sols has remained in its present location ever since.
The store still carries sporting goods—mostly football, baseball and basketball items—and has developed plenty of faithful customers.
“I’m going to miss all the customers,” Neft said. “I had a lot of long-term customers.”
Customers can still find deals during the liquidation sale. Store hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Will you miss Sols? Tell us in the comments section.
Like Ambridge Connection on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
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