Business Q&A: Barry Athletic Inc.

Located on Merrick Road, . is one of Rockville Centre’s oldest businesses. Started by Harry Feingold in 1934, it is stationed in its fifth location and continues to survive despite the advent of larger sports goods chains like Sports Authority and Modells. Joan Hoffman, Feingold’s daughter and current Barry’s owner, describes what it’s like to run a “mom and pop” sporting goods store.

What has been the key to sustaining success for more than 70 years?

I think it’s just paying attention to what your customers need, listening to what they want, and finding it for them.

How has the sporting goods business changed?

It’s changed drastically. As far as my business, we’re team sports. I think the internet has taken away a large part of the one-on-one (relationship). We cater to our customers and the internet makes it very cold. People sit down and type an order up (without) caring about what it looks like or what it feels like. The one-on-one service is not there, which I think is the reason we’re still around.

What makes Barry Athletic Inc. stand out from larger sporting goods stores?

We know all our customers. Our customers know us. You could come in and say ‘I want t-shirts’ for a special occasion and I can have them printed up and ready in a day. Nobody else could do that. We have the screen printing right here. No is not an option.

What is your most popular item?

What keeps us going is the screen printing. This season it’s sweats. Now, things have changed in the industry. They use the moisture wicking shirts, more of the polyester kind of blend, not the natural fibers like cotton.

How important is it to have a good relationship with local athletic societies, such as Rockville Centre Soccer?

One of the things is, and a lot of people in town know it, where can you go where you come in and say ‘would you do this for me?’ or ‘can I have this and I’ll come back and pay you?’ That’s the definition of a ‘mom and pop’ store. You could not go into Modell's and say ‘I’ll be back and pay you next week.’ That’s been our claim to fame. I know the people and the people know us. We are your sporting goods store.