New athletic apparel store opened at The Greene

A new athletic apparel shop has opened at the Greene Town Center in Beavercreek.

Cincinnati-based Hats N More opened its fifth store at the Greene between Panera Bread and Ideal Image in June. The retailer has locations in indoor malls such as the Dayton Mall, Florence Mall in Kentucky and Tri-County and Northgate malls in Cincinnati. But this is the first time the company has expanded into the outdoor mall concept, said store owner Mark Stapleton, 49, of Bridgetown.

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“We have high hopes in the outdoor mall concept because it’s more updated. Some of the malls now are getting more dated looking,” Stapleton said.

Sales at the store are comparable to when the retailer opened a store in the Dayton Mall about three years ago, Stapelton said. Hats N More, which started as Cincy Shop, sells team merchandise like hats, trashcans, jerseys, jewelry, clocks, mugs and more for every Major League Baseball team, many college teams, FOX Racing, NBA, NHL and the NFL.

Stapelton’s decision on where to open a store is simple.

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“My family will go to a place and kind of hangout there, and if everyone enjoys it and buys something we do it,” he said. “If no one wants to hangout there and no one buys anything then we don’t open a store there.”

When visiting The Greene, his family enjoyed the restaurants and movie theater. Family is important to Stapelton, especially since his business has been family run since the beginning.

His father started the store after four years in the United States Air Force, and now his son is also joining the family business.

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“I was so excited when my son wanted to get into the business because I worked with my father for 35 years,” Stapelton said.

Stapelton is looking to continue expanding the company. He and his family open pop-up shops near the holidays, but he also anticipates more permanent locations in the near future.

“We’ve always got something in the works, and we’re always looking to expand,” Stapelton said. “You just have to keep growing as your family grows.”

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