On the attack: Lacrosse Unlimited looks to score in return to central Ohio
A new lacrosse store hopes to seize upon the popularity of the sport in central Ohio.
On Sept. 6, Lacrosse Unlimited opened a store of about 1,800 square feet at 2245 W. Dublin-Granville Road in the Linworth Shopping Center.
Founded in 1990 by the DeSimone family and headquartered in Edgewood, New York, Lacrosse Unlimited has more than 45 stores in 14 states, according to the company.
The latest venture, however, is the only Lacrosse Unlimited in Ohio.
Store manager Ross LaPerna, said he and the company have been working toward opening another central Ohio store since the Upper Arlington operation was closed in 2016.
"Just like the game and the skills of the players has grown in central Ohio and the Midwest, we've grown and matured as a company," LaPerna said. "We've taken the lessons of the past, good and bad, and are confident in our ability to exceed the expectations of the market. We are excited to be back.
"The Midwest is smoking hot in lacrosse right now. (Midwestern) teams compete nationally every year. The players from here compete all over the country all year long. There's a huge population of players in central Ohio."
Despite the Upper Arlington closure, LaPerna said, the time was right for Lacrosse Unlimited to return to central Ohio.
"Just like the game and the skills of the players has grown in central Ohio and the Midwest, we've grown and matured as a company," he said. "We've taken the lessons of the past, good and bad, and are confident in our ability to exceed the expectations of the market. We are excited to be back."
LaPerna said he can outfit lacrosse players from the cleats on their feet to the helmets on their head and provide all the other playing equipment the game calls for, as well.
If something isn't in stock, LaPerna said, items can be pulled from another Lacrosse Unlimited store.
"It's all lacrosse," he said. "We have equipment for the player who can't spell lacrosse because they're too young, all the way up to Division I players in college.
"We can outfit anybody, and we do it all."
One of the store's first customers, Antonio Benton of Dublin, said he was excited when he saw chatter on social media about the store.
His excitement was ramped up after he began to peruse the store's selection online and discovered it had much to offer his daughter, Megan, a freshman at Olentangy Liberty.
"What caught my attention is he had a whole wall of stuff for girls," Benton said. "A lot of places have stuff for boys but not a lot of stuff for girls."
Benton said LaPerna opened the store early for him so he could buy a Gait Apex lacrosse stick his daughter had been searching for all summer.
"She asked (LaPerna) if he could change the strings to Olentangy Liberty colors, and he was like, 'Oh yeah,'" Benton said. "In less than 24 hours, it was ready.
"To have that kind of selection less than 15 minutes from my house is huge. To have girls and other kids working at the store that know the game is helpful, too. I'll definitely go back."
Initially, Lacrosse Unlimited plans to maintain seven employees, some of whom play collegiately. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.
"I tell people this is the barbershop for lacrosse," LaPerna said. "People come in and want to hang out and talk about lacrosse.
"We have over 45 stores (companywide), but ... we're the only one in the Midwest. So, this is a destination."
Additional information about Lacrosse Unlimited is available at lacrosseunlimited.com/.
nellis@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekNate
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Lacrosse Unlimited opens in Linworth Shopping Center
