Al’s Sporting Goods in Wilmington to close; owner says Chase will take over the building

Why Should Delaware Care?
Al’s Sporting Goods became a Wilmington landmark after nearly a century in business. Its imminent closure highlights the latest shifts for Wilmington’s commercial core that decades ago served as a retail hub for northern Delaware. The closure also marks an expansion of JPMorganChase’s footprint in the city. 

After 91 years in business, Al’s Sporting Goods in Wilmington will close its doors in December, marking an end to a family’s legacy and exemplifying the changing nature of the city’s commercial economy.

Owner Bob Hart said his retirement is forcing the closure of the lower Market Street store. He could not find anyone to take it over, he said, despite the shop “doing pretty good business.” 

“I think it’s tough today to sell a retail business with people buying stuff online,” he explained. 

Hart did find a buyer for the part of his business that sells team uniforms and equipment, although he said the new buyer can’t hire all 18 of his employees. It will open in a new location on Jan. 1.

As for the existing storefront, Hart said he sold it to JPMorganChase. The remainder of the building already serves as a parking garage for the bank’s Wilmington headquarters. Online property records do not yet show the sale. 

Asked about the sale, a JPMorganChase spokesperson said, “At this time, we have no comment.”

JPMorganChase employed over 11,000 people in Delaware in 2025, according to the Delaware Business Times. Bloomberg reported last year that the bank planned to require all employees to return to the office five days a week, but it is unclear whether that is its current policy. 

Sean Park, director of Wilmington’s Office of Economic Development, said he is looking into the store’s closure and could not comment at this time. 

Almost a century in business

Abe “Al” Kristol opened Al’s Sporting Goods in 1935 as a pawn shop located in a separate building on Market Street. Soon after, Hart’s father started working at the business. He later took it over along with a business partner. 

Hart began working at the store when he was 12 years old. In 1984, he shifted to running the business alongside his father. 

By 2020, Hart considered moving the store after it was looted in riots following citywide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, but ultimately decided to stay. Hart said that event was not part of his decision to close the store. 

Throughout his 40 years running the shop, the 69-year-old Hart said he has worked six-day weeks, and rarely taken time off. 

“It hurts me [to close it] because of how long we’ve been here, but I’ve got to try to live the best life,” Hart said. 

‘One of the best stores around’

At midday on Monday, a few customers milled about the store, looking at items that are now discounted 20% to 50% as part of a liquidation sale. 

Several of the customers said they hadn’t heard of the store’s closure until they saw the signs on the doors, and that they were sad to see it go. 

“This is one of the best stores around,” said Wilmington native Dave Davis. He said he’s been going to the store for as long as he can remember. 

John Jordan, who grew up in Middletown, said he would also visit the store as a kid and is “very surprised” it is closing. He now lives in Maryland but travels to Wilmington occasionally to shop at the store.

“They have pretty much everything,” Jordan said. 

Wilmington native George Hairston said he is sad to see it close because he will have to travel to Christiana Mall to go to a sporting goods store. 

Debbie Schwartz, property manager of The Lofts & Shops at 2nd & LOMA, said she is worried some people won’t have access to a sporting goods store now that there isn’t one downtown. 

Her company manages the buildings on the other side of Market Street, and she said she believes in the idea of mixed-use communities — places that people can shop where they live.

Schwartz also recounted how people would camp outside of Al’s Sporting Goods to get the newest sneakers. She said she is impressed that Hart, the owner, always greets her when she comes into the store. 

“The guy couldn’t be nicer,” she said. 

Schwartz said she hopes JPMorganChase’s purchase of the store will bring more employees downtown. The buildings in her complex are fully occupied, she said. There are also two new restaurants on the block — Villa Italiana and Urban Fork.