CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Page’s Clarksville Sporting Goods announced Wednesday that it would be closing its doors for good on March 15.

“With the pandemic and everything, it’s been a long year this past year,” said manager Ronnie Page. “My mom Sue (Page) is the owner, and she’s retiring. My son has decided that he wants to go into something other than retail business. … I’ve done it for about 40 years now and I’m just a little on the tired side.”

How it all started

The local sporting goods store has been a staple in the Clarksville community for more than 40 years, ever since Eddie Page and Robert Taylor decided to give back to the city through their shared passion of sports.

“My dad Eddie (Page) worked for Jack Saunders Oldsmobile and Cadillac that later became Brandon-Groves Oldsmobile and Cadillac,” Ronnie said. “He worked for that company as parts manager and had always been a sports enthusiast. He found out that Coach Charlie Quarles was wanting to sell what was called the Athletic House back then by Red’s Bakery on Riverside.

“My Dad and Robert Taylor, who was vice president of Northern Bank in Clarksville, went in together as partners in January of 1977. Then we moved up to the location further on Riverside and took in a couple other partners for a while. After a couple of years, all three of them decided to sell out to my dad so he could be the sole proprietor.”

In February 2016, the Pages made the move toward Sango after spending 38 years near downtown.

“Just downsizing,” Ronnie said of the change in location. “The building on Riverside was probably larger than what we needed. Then we moved here and was trying to do a little more retail business.”

Page’s Clarksville Sporting Goods has been a headquarters and specialty store dedicated to assisting teams, schools, business and churches with the customization of apparel, uniforms, trophies, plaques and monogramming.

“Servicing youth sports in Clarksville and Montgomery County,” Ronnie said of what he hopes the business is most remembered by. “We’ve made a lot of friends over the years and a lot of good relationships.”

A family business

Many customers and former staff members have taken to social media to share their memories of the mom-and-pop store.

“Thanks for the last-minute orders and great customer service,” said Clarksville Academy girls basketball coach Charles Clark in a Facebook post. “Always good just to stop in and catch up on the local sports scene. More importantly, thanks for the support you have given me over the years. Sad to see you go.”

According to Ronnie, he and his family are forever grateful that they were able to play such a special role in the lives of others.

“It’s always been a family business,” Ronnie said. “I’ve got an older brother and sister that both worked here when they were younger before going on to other careers. I just stayed here with it and been here a long time.

“I just really appreciate all the support that everybody in the local community has given us over the years,” Ronnie said. “We’re going to miss that, but we’re going to move on and try to figure out what we do next.”