FOX 14 TV Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather Sports |Now open: Academy Sports

Now open: Academy Sports

Updated Friday January 27, 2012:  Some eager shoppers in Joplin help welcome back another Rangeline business destroyed on May 22.  Academy Sports reopened its doors on Friday.

There were no deaths inside the store on May 22nd, but many store workers and shoppers spent the day remembering both the good and bad from that day.

Customers we spoke with say they were eager for the store's reopening.

"I was just really excited to get over to Academy and I've been all over Facebook spreading the word, and everybody has been spreading the word about aAademy opening this morning," says Joplin resident Francene Johnson.  "Just glad to be here and glad to see the lights on again.  Just really excited for all the Joplin businesses that are opening."

The Joplin Academy Store employees about 120 people.

Academy will have a three day grand opening celebration starting February 10.  They will have daily giveaways, prizes, and will also have opportunities to interact with pros representing top brands sold at the store.

Plus, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday February 12, there will be a free autograph session with Handles Franklin of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Reported Thursday January 26, 2012:  The official ribbon cutting for Academy Sports took place Thursday afternoon in Joplin, Missouri, just minutes before their first customers strolled through the doors.

Forty students from Irving Elementary were invited to a private shopping spree at the brand new store during a Youth give-back event.

Academy Sports donated a $100 gift card to each child and provided personal shopping assistants.

Irving Elementary Principal Debbie Fort says every student chosen for the shopping spree had been impacted by the tornado in some way.

"What I have seen in the children's faces today is just like a look of joy that maybe hasn't been there, because you know, maybe there hasn't been the financial  means to just buy anything you want, I don't think many kids get the opportunity to hear 'buy anything you want'", says Dr. Fort.  "I've seen lots of fishing poles.  My favorite is a little kindergarten girl with a pair of pink cowboy boots on with the cheerleader outfit that she wore - adorable.  Lots of roller skates.  Lots of outdoor physical activities because they lost those outdoor things."

Academy Sports is one of six businesses destroyed by the tornado that have either reopened within the past 30 days or plans to reopen within the week.

The rebuilt Academy store is more than 75,000 square feet and store officials say the building is built up to code, but does not have a storm shelter or safe room.

Joplin resident Diane Huddleston says it is comforting to see all the businesses rebuild as she rebuilds her home from the tornado.

"You drive by and it was so dark and you slowly see the lights coming back on and that is special to turn the corner and to see a few more lights every night," Huddleston says.  "You feel like you are doing something worthwhile.  We are going to get there."

Academy Sports officially opens its doors to the public Friday at 8 a.m.