Monarch Sports owner Charlie Easton works an engraver at the company’s location on Main Street recently. As of today, the store is open at Graphic Stitch on Grove Street, a move spurred partially by Easton’s retirement.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Will Channell)
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An Uptown Marysville mainstay is moving to a new – and hopefully more successful – location.
Store owners Gloyd Ayers and Charlie Easton are moving the store to Graphic Stitch on Grove Street. Easton said Monarch Sports has occupied its current store on Main Street since the late 1970s. Ayers said today, Jan. 2, is the date they’re aiming to open at their new location.
The move stems from Easton’s retirement.
“I’m turning 69, and I didn’t want to put 60 hours a week in anymore,” Easton said. “It was getting to be too much.”
The move also sets up Ayers, 60, if he decides to retire in five years. According to him, both he and Easton are getting to an age where it’s more difficult to put in the required time.
“I’m not ready to retire yet, but I need someone to help me,” Ayers said.
The set up at Graphic Stitch will allow Ayers to establish the business in a new location, and when he eventually retires, he can pass it off to someone new.
“I can just basically walk away and everything should be able to run smooth,” Ayers said.
Ayers said Monarch Sports will still have a storefront at Graphic Stitch on Grove Street.
Ayers said the new location will still offer letterman jackets and some Marysville Monarchs gear, same as the current store.
“You could say sporting goods is going to disappear out of there,” Ayers said. “We haven’t really sold that many bats, gloves, sports equipment.”
The selection is being pared down to spirit wear and uniforms for local, independent teams.
The shop will still offer engraving and trophies.
“All that stuff will still continue,” Ayers said.
Easton said they chose Graphic Stitch because Monarch Sports has done extensive work with them in the past. Ayers said they’ve gotten their embroidery and screen-printing done there.
“We had a good relationship, good rapport already worked up,” Ayers said. “They do a lot in the community, too, with the different schools.”
Easton said things like gloves and bats can still be ordered; they just won’t be in-store.
“I know a lot of people are going to be disappointed because there’s not going to actually be a sporting goods store in Marysville anymore,” Ayers said. “It’s unfortunate.”
Easton said their sporting goods business was undercut by online retailers like Amazon.
“That’s why we don’t have shoes, bats, gloves,” Easton said.
Easton said many people are purchasing uniforms online and bringing them to Monarch Sports for lettering.
“It affects us there, a little bit,” Ayers said.
Easton said Dunham’s Sports and MC Sports may have hurt business a little, but the internet has been the real problem.
“Once they went out, we just saw a little bit of activity,” Ayers said.
The internet also factored into their choice to move into Graphic Stitch. Ayers Monarch Sports could take advantage of Graphic Stitch’s online presence.
“I know our customers were really pushing us sometimes to have that,” Ayers said.
Easton said that online component could help increase business.
Ayers said customers have complained in the past about a lack of parking in the area. Easton also said it’s been hard for them to stay open after 6 p.m. due to bar activity.
“Once the bar activity got going you had a pile of people outside these doors,” Ayers said. “We didn’t want kids and families coming in with that kind of environment.”
While the move is needed, there’s still some melancholy between Ayers and Easton.
“We know it’s going to affect the downtown Marysville,” Ayers said.
Easton said he’s turned the key to the building more times than he can count.
“I’ve had it for over 40 years,” Easton said. “It’s going to be tough.”