Sport Chalet

Norbert Olberz, the founder of La Cañada Flintridge-based Sport Chalet, died on Friday, the company announced. He was 86. Olberz founded the company in 1959, building the enterprise into a multi-million dollar, publicly traded company. He served as Sport Chalet's chief executive until 1999 and as chairman of the board of directors until 2001, according to an announcement from the company released Sunday. Sport Chalet had only recently started to rebound from the hard financial hit it took during the recession.

A host of activities accompanied the opening of Sport Chalet last week, beginning with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of Aug. 21. More than 200 customers stood in line early last Friday morning as they waited for the new store to open. The offer of a gift card for the first 200 in line brought some out, but for most it was the store itself. ?We are excited,? said La Cañada resident Dianne Richardson. She and her daughter, Sara Stueve, were the first in line, arriving at 6:30 a.m. They couldn?

Marshall Allen LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- Sport Chalet Inc. did not meet its sales goal in the past fiscal year, but did make strides toward a strong future. Sport Chalet's sales increased from $214.8 million last year to $227.3 million this year, but the increase was due to the opening of three new stores. The company experienced a comparable store sales decrease of 1.1%, Executive Vice President and CFO Howard Kaminsky said. Comparable store sales look at the sales of stores that were open for the same period of time, not new stores.

Ben Godar Sport Chalet Inc. earnings for its third quarter were up 18.7% compared to last year, and officials are cautiously optimistic that the growth will continue. Net income for the three-month period that ended Dec. 31 increased from $2.2 million in 2001 to $2.6 million in 2002. Sales increased 7.2% from $67.4 million in 2001 to $72.3 million in 2002, company reports said. While much of the increase was due to the opening of two new stores during the year, comparable store sales also increased by 2.2%, officials said.

Sport Chalet Inc. , a longtime Southern California sporting goods retailer, has agreed to open a store in downtown Los Angeles. The La Canada Flintridge company will put an outlet in Figat7th, a mall at the intersection of Figueroa and Seventh streets undergoing a $40-million makeover by landlord Brookfield Office Properties. Sports Chalet will join Target as anchors in the mall, which is set to reopen in the fall. Target Inc. announced in 2010 that it would take over space formerly occupied by Macy's and Bullock's department stores.

Robert Chacon Norbert Olberz bought Sport Chalet in 1959 for $4,000. Since then, the tiny shop on the 900 block of Foothill Boulevard has grown to include three more stores and a company headquarters in the city, and has 31 stores in California and Nevada. The store celebrates its 45th anniversary this week, and will have a small party for employees Friday. The company has literally grown up along with locals. "I still remember when this was just the one shop across the street," La Crescenta resident Carolyn Steinbacher said.

Karen S. Kim Sport Chalet founder Norbert Olberz is planning for the future. The 77-year-old La Canada Flintridge resident has announced he will allow executives of Sport Chalet to buy his shares of the company after his death. "I think it's great foresight on Nobert's and his wife, Irene's, part to have a plan for Sport Chalet when that day comes," Chief Executive Officer Craig Levra said Tuesday. According to Olberz's decision, the Olberz Family Trust, which owns two-thirds of Sport Chalet's shares, will allow Sport Option LLC to buy them out. Sport Option LLC is a company owned by five Sport Chalet executives.

Over the long Memorial Day weekend Sport Chalet Inc., headquartered in La Cañada Flintridge, celebrated the grand opening of its 41st location a 40,000-square-foot store at 1350 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. The grand opening celebration featured a host of activities and included sports demonstrations and giveaways. The new store will feature an on-site Scuba training pool that is slated to open in late summer. Sport Chalet was founded in 1959 by La Cañada resident Norbert Olberz.

Marshall Allen LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The Sport Chalet headquarters under construction on Houseman Street represents a "major milestone" in La Canada Flintridge, City Manager Jerry Fulwood said. "A lot has occurred to get to this point," Fulwood said. The Sport Chalet project, which broke ground March 4, has been in the works for about 20 years, Fulwood said. Controversy over its development led to the city's Downtown Village Specific Plan -- a comprehensive guide to development, created with community input and adopted in November 2000.

Sport Chalet Inc. , a longtime Southern California sporting goods retailer, has agreed to open a store in downtown Los Angeles. The La Canada Flintridge company will put an outlet in Figat7th, a mall at the intersection of Figueroa and Seventh streets undergoing a $40-million makeover by landlord Brookfield Office Properties. Sports Chalet will join Target as anchors in the mall, which is set to reopen in the fall. Target Inc. announced in 2010 that it would take over space formerly occupied by Macy's and Bullock's department stores.

Norbert Olberz, the founder of La Cañada Flintridge-based Sport Chalet, died on Friday, the company announced. He was 86. Olberz founded the company in 1959, building the enterprise into a multi-million dollar, publicly traded company. He served as Sport Chalet's chief executive until 1999 and as chairman of the board of directors until 2001, according to an announcement from the company released Sunday. Sport Chalet had only recently started to rebound from the hard financial hit it took during the recession.

Sport Chalet made modest sales gains in the fourth quarter, stoked by a cold winter and enhanced customer marketing, the company reported. In the fourth quarter ending March 28, sales at the La Cañada Flintridge-based sporting goods chain increased 6.8% to $90.2 million, up from $84.5 million for the same quarter a year ago. The jump was driven by a same store sales increase of $4.7 million, or 5.7%, said Chief Operating Officer Craig Levra....

Nearly 1 million shoes collected in two weeks Soles4Souls, an international charity that provides shoes to people in need, reported that in just two weeks, Sport Chalet collected more than 950,000 pairs of shoes for Haiti relief. Jan. 14 through Jan. 31, new and gently worn shoes were dropped off at all 55 Sport Chalet locations. Soles4Souls had originally set a national goal to collect 250,000 pairs of shoes, and Sport Chalet set theirs at 55,000 pairs. After the first three days, Sport Chalet had collected nearly 70,000 pairs and so increased their personal goal to 250,000 pairs, while Soles4Souls increased their national goal to 1.3 million, according to the nonprofit.

Soles4Souls Inc., the charity that gives away footwear to the needy, is partnering with Sport Chalet to collect “gently worn” shoes for clients. Now through Oct. 12, Soles4Souls and Sport Chalet will be collecting footwear to ship to a person in need. Sport Chalet will give those who donate a 20%-off coupon for a new pair of shoes during the event. Visit sportschalet.com or giveshoes.org for more information.   IHOP recognizes franchisees, vendors Glendale-based International House of Pancakes recognized its franchisee and vendor partner of the year at its annual National Franchise Conference in Boca Raton, Fla., the weekend of Sept.

Glendale-based International House of Pancakes, or IHOP, this week announced the roll out of new menu items, which include a lineup of dinner options. The items are available nationwide and are a result of extensive research. They include new options for seniors and kids, as well as additional “For Me” selections, which offers guests dishes that are lower in fat, calories or carbohydrates.   Masstech teams up with local company Masstech announced this week that, in conjunction with National TeleConsultants of Glendale, it has completed the commissioning of a large-scale file-based work flow solution for Fox Network Center-Houston, in The Woodlands, Texas.

  Prep hoping for playoffs after win After allowing Chadwick to win a come from behind 12-9 baseball game at the Glendale Sports Complex on Tuesday, Flintridge Prep beat the Chadwick Dolphins last Friday, 5-4, at Palos Verdes Peninsula to secure a Prep League CIF Southern Section Division VI playoff spot. Coach Robert “Buzz” Cook will take the Rebels to their first post season appearance since 2006. Prep (12-7 overall, 6-5 league) defeated Chadwick behind five strong innings from freshman Royce Park (5-4)

A host of activities accompanied the opening of Sport Chalet last week, beginning with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of Aug. 21. More than 200 customers stood in line early last Friday morning as they waited for the new store to open. The offer of a gift card for the first 200 in line brought some out, but for most it was the store itself. ?We are excited,? said La Cañada resident Dianne Richardson. She and her daughter, Sara Stueve, were the first in line, arriving at 6:30 a.m. They couldn?

Though the inside looks as big as the outside, don’t be fooled; the important part is how the space is being used. “Efficiency is the motto,” said Chairman and CEO of Sport Chalet Craig Levra. The 45,000 square-foot monster-sized store in the new Town Center in La Cañada was primed for its big ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. yesterday and the grand opening today at 9:30 a.m. It will be housing just about every kind of sporting clothing and equipment you can think of. Skateboarding decks and clothes?