Headingley Sport Shop’s next generation takes over

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This article was published 23/03/2018 (2983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Headingley Sport Shop customers might notice that two familiar faces are missing as of the end of March.

Longtime owners and sisters Jill Ruth and Jody Cole are retiring and leaving the family business at 5160 Portage Ave. in the hands of their children. Ruth’s son Mitch is in sales and Cole’s daughters Dusty, sales manager, and Mindy, operations manager.

The business was established in 1969 by Ruth and Cole’s parents John and Gail Killbery. When Headingley Sport Shop first opened, it sold lawn and garden equipment. The store was situated at 166 Bridge Rd. for about 35 years before relocating to its current 10-acre site in 2001. After completing an addition in 2015, the shop is now 24,000 square-feet.

Mindy worked part-time in the store while in high school and university, but switched careers from teaching to working full-time at Headingley Sport Shop about six years ago.

“Working with your family can be challenging, but it’s good for the most part,” she said.
Dusty, who’s worked in the business for about 15 years, added that it’s nice to have a close knit family, and said many of the store’s longtime employees are like an extended family.

Mitch said he’ll miss having his mother and aunt actively involved in the day-to-day business operations.

“We’re only a phone call away,” Ruth said. She and Cole will still be involved as shareholders.

Ruth looks forward to having more time to spend with her grandchildren and volunteering with the Headingley Community Foundation in her current role as vice-president.

While no major changes are in the works, Cole said customers can expect to see the Headingley Sport Shop’s online and social media presence grow.