Academy launches grand opening in Hutto

Academy Sports and Outdoors held a grand opening celebration for its Hutto location this weekend. 

To kick off the festivities, the retail store held a preview night for the Hutto YMCA After School program on Thursday, November 16. Twenty kids received a $250 gift card to shop at the store for new clothes, shoes and sports supplies. Families were given 45 minutes to fill their carts. 

“It’s huge,” said Rachel Wehmeyer, district executive director for after-school programming. “I think this time of the season, we’ve seen many that were moved to tears because of an unexpected blessing for them and for their families.”

YMCA Vice President of Financial Development Theresa Cirigliano said Academy was the first sporting goods company to reach out to the local YMCA branch to supply the need in the Austin area, describing the experience as “a true partnership.” 

Ms. Cirigliano said within Williamson County, there aren’t many zip codes that fall under the traditional low-income zip codes. Most of the families the YMCA serves are what they call the “working poor.” Meaning, that parents have jobs to pay the rent and meet the necessities of their families, but they are choosing what to involve their children in after school. 

“The Y’s bread and butter, what we work for year-round is to make sure we meet those gaps in needs,” she said. “Partners like Academy make that possible.”  

Throughout the year, the YMCA raises funds for scholarships that are given to families to help with the after-school program, preschool, swim lessons and more. Residents and companies can give back to the YMCA by visiting the organization’s website at www.ymcactx.org

Grand beginnings

On Friday morning, Academy held an official ribbon cutting. On Saturday, customers were able to get free Kountry Boy Sausage on a Stick. On Sunday, free Texas State Parks Gift Cards were given away to customers.  

According to the City of Hutto, throughout the weekend, the first 150 people who waited in line before the store’s opening were able to win a mystery gift card. The card values ranged from $20 - $500, allowing for over $15,000 to be given away. Customers also had the opportunity to participate in an in-store treasure hunt with a free gift and a free laser engraving with the purchase of a Magellan Outdoors tumbler until 5 p.m.

The Hutto location is the first 50,000-square-foot “green build,” featuring roof-mounted solar panels that will supplement the energy supply for the store during daylight hours.

Located at 250 Alliance Boulevard, just off US Highway 79 and State Highway 130, Academy is the newest business in Townwest Commons. Neighboring businesses include Lowe’s Home Improvement, Walgreens, the Hutto YMCA and other businesses. 

Originally announced during a City Council meeting on April 6, Austin Alvis, president of NewQuest Properties — who owns Townwest Commons — announced that Academy would be coming to Hutto. According to the city, the store is projected to initially generate at least $15 million a year in sales, bringing at least $225,000 a year in sales tax revenue. 

“The Hutto community is just so vibrant and it’s growing so quickly,” said Meghan Witmer, Academy Public Relations Specialist. “First and foremost, we always want to support the community and we know if we support them, they'll support us.”