Eich’s Sports Opens in Downtown Lemont

A downtown Lemont sporting goods store is under new ownership.

The family-owned , which has two other Chicagoland locations, has taken the place of Main Street Sports.

Like it’s predecessor, the store, located at  at 216 Main St., carries much of the same merchandise and does customized screenprinting and embroidery. Eich’s, however, is also offering uniforms and a small selection Under Armour apparel, as well as sports equipment.

Tracy Eich Mueller, who owns the business, is excited about the venture. The Lemont location joins the other Eich’s Sports stores in Plainfield and Coal City.

For the Lemont resident, who used to play basketball, softball and volleyball, running Eich’s Sports is a perfect fit.

It was her father who got the family into the sporting goods business after being disheartened years earlier by the lack of places in the Plainfield area to get apparel and equipment for his daughter.

So Charles and Betty Eich opened the first Eich's Sports in 1988 on Route 30, before opening the Coal City store in 1995. In 2005, relocated the Route 30 store to 24316 W. 143rd St., in Plainfield.

Mueller went to college on a softball scholarship, but gave it up to help run the family business.

She enjoys living and running a business in the village.

“I definitely like the small town feel,” she said. “And everybody’s very loyal. Some were upset when they heard (Main Street Sports) was going to close because they like for businesses to stay in town and give them the opportunity for their business as opposed to going elsewhere.”

She wants to dispel the rumors that there is no longer a sporting goods store in the downtown.

“I’ve been hearing from a lot of people, ‘We thought you were closed,’” Mueller said. “But we are here.”

The store will celebrate its grand opening Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, according to the store's Facebook page.

For more information, visit the Eich's Sports website.