“We had looked at different things, but this came up out of the blue,” he said.
“It was really good timing. I was going to keep laying bricks for a couple of years to keep earning money while we paid the shop off, but it just got too busy.
“I gave up the bricks and came in here, and we haven’t looked back since.”
In 2005, the Youngs extended into what was a computer store next door, opening the wall between and demolishing the residence at the back of the original sports store to create more space for their expanding stock and services.
They stocked fishing, boating and sports gear, offered a key-cutting service, trophies and engraving, fitness watches, as well as sports shoes and clothing.
Mr Young said they had seen some fashion come around again.
“We were looking at photos the other night and saw the stud-through Adidas pants from the 1990s – I hadn’t seen them in years,” he said. Mrs Young said employing school-aged people worked well for the couple – as well as giving youth their first employment experience, it helped them keep up with the trends.
“They kept us a bit younger for a while, being able to ask them what particular new slang words meant, but they also helped us choose stock,” she said.
Mrs Young said they had enjoyed seeing generations of people come through the shop.
“There was a young guy in here who said he didn’t remember any other owners,” she said.
“I asked how old he was – he was 26 – and I said that was why.
“I said to him we’d had four generations of his family in here. He’d shopped in here with his grandparents, and he has mates with kids who shop here.”
Mrs Young said they started with the manual credit card swipe machines, saw the introduction of GST, and the evolution of payments.
When the store closes after Easter – traditionally one of its busiest times – Mrs Young said they were looking forward to more outdoor experiences.
“We want to do what we talk to people about, what they’re doing – they come in and tell us about all their adventures,” she said.
“We are disappointed we haven’t been able to sell the business. It will leave a gap in the street. We’ll definitely miss the people, and the banter.”
Mr Young said it had been a great journey.
“It’s bittersweet – you don’t spend all that time working at a business thinking that you’re going to shut it down, but it is what it is,” he said.
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