Across the entrance to Dunham’s Discount Sports, 2806 Frontage Road, Warsaw, a big yellow and black sign was hung Tuesday announcing that the store is closing and it’s for that location only.
A flyer recently provided to customers states, “We are sorry to inform you that the Warsaw Dunham’s Sports location will have its last day of business on Sunday, January 16th, 2022. Our lease has expired. We are currently looking for other locations in the market. For other Dunham’s locations in Indiana, please visit www.dunhamssports.com.”
When contacted by telephone Tuesday morning, the store manager referred all questions to corporate headquarters where a message was left requesting more information. No response was received as of press time Tuesday night.
Dunham’s Sports is the Midwest’s largest sporting goods chain, according to its website. Its roots go back to 1937 in West Bloomfield, Mich., when a small shop called Dunham’s Bait & Tackle opened. Over the years, it grew into a full line sporting goods chain, serving customers in 23 states, with over 235 stores nationally.
According to county records, the Marketplace of Warsaw, in which Dunham’s is located, is owned by SW Warsaw LLC (Sullivan Wickley), 4151 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Suite 155, Atlanta, Ga. It was previously owned by the Farbman Group, Southfield, Mich.
Other stores that have closed in the Marketplace over the last few years include Carson’s, Pier 1 and Sears, while those still open include the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Workout Anytime, Subway and others.
Wire & Steam Coffee Co. also remains open. On its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon was the following part of a letter to Warsaw: “Wire & Steam is NOT closing, relocating or losing our lease. You may have seen info about Dunham’s closing and Op Nails & Aqua Systems relocating. But we are not going anywhere!”
The letter advises people not to listen to online rumors and comments.
Sullivan Wickley has a website about all their properties, including a section for the Marketplace of Warsaw, which includes a brochure. That can be found at https://www.sullivanwickley.com/leases/marketplace-at-warsaw/.
Among the details the brochure provides is what space is available, what’s leased and a “deal pending” for the former J.C. Penney store location, as of Tuesday. It shows the former Carson’s store location as “available.”
