LIHUE — Doors to the Sports Authority at the Kukui Grove Center open to the public starting at 11 a.m. today. James Saladin, Sports Authority store manager, and the Kukui Grove Center’s management team hosted a tour Thursday of the
LIHUE — Doors to the Sports Authority at the Kukui Grove Center open to the public starting at 11 a.m. today.
James Saladin, Sports Authority store manager, and the Kukui Grove Center’s management team hosted a tour Thursday of the 43,000-square-foot sporting goods outlet, the entourage being greeted by the Kauai High School cheer squad.
“After all these years without a sporting goods store on Kauai, this is exciting,” said Stacy Ricciardi of Bootcamp by Stacy, one of the invited guests. “Soccer shoes. We’ve had to buy them online, or go to Honolulu. It’s so exciting that we have a store on Kauai where they actually have shoes you can try on.”
Wade Lord, general manager of Kukui Grove, said the store opening is the end of a wonderful journey which started with focus groups working with the community on what the people wanted.
“The community wanted this store,” Lord said. “It was one of the top two choices the people said they wanted. We entered into talks with Sports Authority and after a year, we are finally here at the end of a wonderful journey.”
Eric Walter, a co-manager with Saladin, said the store will celebrate its grand opening on May 24 starting at 8 a.m. with coupons, gift card giveaways, and a $500 shopping spree.
“This is everything people spend $300 for a round-trip to Honolulu to get,” said William Trujillo, AYSO commissioner for West Kauai. “Now, they can spend the $300 on equipment because we have it here on Kauai.”
Kevin Souza, a fire captain at the Kapaa fire station, said his crew was lucky to have to stand-in for the Lihue fire station crew, which was out training.
“This is really weird,” Souza said. “We got to come in place of Lihue and they gave us the tour of the store. But the feeling is weird because inside, you see all the things people go to Honolulu to buy, and when you get to the door, this is Kauai.”
Souza said the feeling is going to be the same when Ross Dress for Less opens later in the year.
“You see all the Kauai people in these stores, buying things,” he said. “Now, they can do it all, here.”
Kelsey Cadiente was one of the 47 associates and five managers hired for the Kukui Grove store.
“This is only my third day,” the former Kauai High School athlete said. “I wish I was here from the start. I love it here.”
Saladin said the Kukui Grove store is the first concept store in Hawaii, eventually all other Sports Authority being reworked to resemble the store on Kauai.
Regular store hours will be Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.. Sunday hours will be from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
