CLEARFIELD – In today’s world, a truly “family-owned” business is a rare commodity. In Clearfield one business that is the very epitome of “family” is celebrating 50 years of service.
“It was his dream,” President Terry Malloy said of his father, Jim’s decision to open Jim’s Sports and Hobby Center. “He always had worked at Riverside Market. He started working there right out of high school and he worked there for 17 years.”
On April 1, 1970, Jim Malloy realized his dream of owning a sports and hobby store. He opened his original store at 15 N. Third St., in downtown Clearfield. The store quickly became a success, and soon expanded to include the building at 19 N. Third St.
By 1975, the craft department of the store was sold to Village Craft Store, and the store also eliminated the hobby section by 1980.
The store then became known as “Jim’s Sports Center” and began offering bicycle sales, bicycle repairs and a screen-printing service was also introduced.
The store quickly became known for its quality T-shirts, hats, uniforms and other custom apparel.
Jim’s Sports Center truly became a “family” business when Pat Malloy joined the store in 1975, soon followed by Dan Malloy in 1978, and Terry Malloy in 1980.
As Jim’s Sports Center continued to thrive and grow, by 1989, it became clear a bigger location was necessary.
“We heard that Penn Furniture was closing, so we were able to move into that location. It took about three months to open,” Terry Malloy said.
The hard work paid off, and the store found its new home at the 15,000 square foot building, located at 26 N. Second St., in Clearfield, where it has been since February of 1990.
Before long, three generations of the Malloy family came to work at the store. Now called Jim’s Sports Center Inc., the store specializes in archery, athletic shoes and clothing, baseball, bikes, embroidering, fishing, team uniforms, screen printing and more.
Founder and patriarch Jim Malloy retired in January of 1999, turning the president and chief executive officer position over to Donna Malloy, who eventually stepped down in January of 2001.
Presently, son, Terry Malloy serves as president, with Dan Malloy serving as vice president, Pat Malloy, serving as secretary/treasurer and Donna Malloy, serving as assistant secretary.
The family wished to celebrate their 50 years of service, but the COVID-19 outbreak had other plans.
“We were ordered to close on the eve of the anniversary sale,” Terry Malloy said. “We’re taking things one day at a time and we’re hoping we can hold the anniversary celebration when we’re able to re-open. We had plans to hold a Founder’s Day celebration, but we had to close March 19.”
Malloy said the store is unable to offer online sales, because they do not operate a “point of sale” system.
“We have thousands of items available. By the time we would sit down and get them all listed, it’ll be time to reopen,” Malloy jokes.
“We start to feel good, that things are going to get better, than something happens, and you feel worse again. It’s been a shock.”
Malloy said his family has been so very grateful to the community for all their support. The first is generations of families who continue to shop at the store; the second is top-notch employees and the third, of course, is the community.
Malloy said the town has never looked better and projects, such as the riverwalk, the parks, the new sidewalks and the improved lighting have improved the borough for the whole community.
