For folks wondering what was going to happen in Cross Creek Shopping Center to the old, vacated locations of Pet Smart and TJ Maxx, they didn’t have long to wait to find out. Over the past few weeks, the parking lot outside of the two vacant stores in Beaufort has been walled off, and a transformation is occurring; albeit a slow one. Academy Sports + Outdoors has taken over both vacant stores and is currently constructing one large 45,000 square foot store, combining the two.
With its corporate offices in Texas, the large sporting goods retailer has been expanding at a rate of 5 to 10 new locations per year over the past several years and after the Beaufort spot opens, it will have over 300 locations in some 20 states, making it one of the largest sporting goods and outdoor retailers in the U.S.
Other South Carolina locations include stores in Aiken, Anderson, Easley, Florence, Greenville, Rock Hill, and Spartanburg.
Academy Sports + Outdoors retail outlets offer a wide variety of clothing and shoes for men, women and children for everyday use, and all of the cleats [that parents always look for] for soccer, football and baseball.
They carry all the supplies you’ll need for golf, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, tennis, school wrestling, lacrosse, and even pickleball.
You’ll also find fishing and hunting clothing and licenses, hiking, camping and running clothing & supplies at Academy, plus a full line of fishing rods, bait & gear, kayaks, boating supplies, coolers, knives, bicycles, billiards tables, pool supplies, game room items, grills, patio sets, bounce houses and lots more.
Academy also carries a variety of firearms including handguns, rifles, shotguns, as well as ammunition and storage & safety items.
The new Academy Sports store in Beaufort promises to bring a lot. According to its corporate website, every Academy store is a fun destination where families can find apparel, footwear, sports and camping equipment, hunting and fishing gear, outdoor cooking, and more from top national brands at an everyday value. Academy also offers free services such as grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling, and propane exchange.
A major player in sports across the South, Academy Sports + Outdoors owns the naming rights to the popular Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament (officially referred to as the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic). It is also the official sporting retailer of the NCAA Southeastern Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The location is expected to open up in the third quarter of 2025. No definitive date has been set as of yet, but we’re happy to welcome Academy Sports to Beaufort.
