Sportibles opens Olathe superstore

Sportibles has expanded again in Olathe’s The Great Mall of the Great Plains.

The retailer specializes in themed apparel, merchandise, gifts and accessories for major collegiate and professional sports teams. But the new 25,000-square-foot store has special departments selling themed merchandise for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Sporting Kansas City, and the University of Kansas. Currently Royals and Sporting Kansas City merchandise are the best sellers.

Sportibles also plans to have an autograph and memorabilia room open in time for its grand opening later this summer.

It is the company’s third expansion in the Olathe shopping center. Its original location, which opened in 2004, was 1,500 square feet. A year later it relocated to a 6,000-square-foot space.

“The mall and customers have supported the growth of our business,” said David Walby, owner.

Walby founded Sportibles a decade ago and he also has locations in Independence Center in Independence and Oak Park Mall in Overland Park. The Sportibles office also has relocated from Blue Springs to the new Olathe store.

In other Great Mall updates, the 6,500-square-foot Hibbett Sports, which opened in mid-2005, has closed.

This story was originally published June 18, 2014 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Sportibles opens Olathe superstore."