Sport Chalet takes holiday hit

Warm, dry weather and economic uncertainty led to a $1.9-million net loss in its third-quarter sales, La Cañada Flintridge-based Sport Chalet Inc. announced Wednesday.

“While this was a tough holiday season for many retailers, our third-quarter results were well below our expectations,” Craig Levra, Sport Chalet’s chairman and chief executive, stated in a news release. “Following a strong summer and fall, positive sales trends deteriorated significantly in November and for the first two weeks of December.”

Although overall sales did increase slightly, to $97.6 million from the $97.2 million reported during the third quarter last year, comparable-store sales decreased by 0.7% for the same quarter, which ended Dec. 30. Online, the retailer performed better, increasing its sales by 32.6% over the same period last year.

Levra said the chain has benefited from training sessions, an increase in online sales and the Action Pass customer rewards program.

“We’re encouraged by the improvement in sales since mid-December and its continuation onto the fourth quarter,” Levra said.

Sport Chalet, which currently operates 54 stores, will close locations in Antioch, Calif., and Phoenix during fiscal year 2014. A new location will open this summer in downtown Los Angeles at Figueroa and 7th streets.

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