Soccer Plus Closing Its Doors, Clearance Sale Starts Today
The business has been in Palatine for the last 18 years, but the economy has caused owner Bob Naughtrip to close all three of his locations, in Libertyville, Palatine and LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Since 1995 Soccer Plus has served the soccer and lacrosse community. After 18 years, the business will permanently close its doors as of January 31. Starting today, Friday January 11, the store will begin a clearance sale with all merchandise discounted 30%.
Soccer Plus was started by Bob Naughtrip with its first location in a 2400 sq. ft. location in Palatine. In 2007 the business built a showcase 7500 sq. ft. retail and team facility on Northwest Hwy. Soccer Plus was considered one of the best soccer specialty retailers in the country, according to Naughtrip. In 2009 the business incurred the "Perfect Storm" including a weak economy, a significant increase in Cook County real estate taxes and the highest sales tax in the country at 10%. This sales tax made the business uncompetitive as the Internet became stronger and customers were able to purchase products online without the expense of the tax. This was and is a real problem!
"We appreciate all the business our loyal customers gave us and over the years have established some wonderful relationships," Naughtrip said.
"There were many good years, but it only took a couple of bad years to sink the ship," he said.
Information provided by Bob Naughtrip, Soccer Plus owner.
Wally
7:53 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Yet another quality business undone by the policies and excessive taxes imposed on us by state that spawned the socialist currently residing in the white house. Sad day indeed. Soccer Plus was a quality local soccer supplier.
Bucephalus
9:21 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
It's all well and good to blame the Cook County tax but last time I checked, Libertyville wasn't in Cook County and LaCrosse was in Wisconsin.
Catherine
3:32 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
Bucephalus,, Lacrosse is a sport - not the town in Wisconsin!!
Bucephalus
3:52 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
The city of LaCrosse, WI disagrees with you Catherine.
http://www.cityoflacrosse.org/
Also, the article clearly states that there is a location of Soccer Plus in LaCrosse.
"... has caused owner Bob Naughtrip to close all three of his locations, in Libertyville, Palatine and LaCrosse, Wisconsin."
Wally
11:31 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
And where is Palatine genius? - which just goes to show how far reaching and oppressive the taxation in this area really is. Small businesses everywhere are suffering from the nanny state overtax and spend even more policies of the liberal left. But you can just keep drinking the county, state, and federal socialist kool-aid.
Bucephalus
3:26 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
Wally, I don't understand your statement. Palatine is in Cook County, I'm not denying that. However, LaCrosse is in Wisconsin. It is not "in this area." It is in a state with a rock-ribbed Conservative Governor who has both houses of legislature.
If it was the taxes of Cook County and Illinois that drove Soccer Plus under, then what did LaCrosse in? You can't blame that one closing on the "liberal left."
It might feel good to blame Cook County's tax rate, as Mr. Naughtrip did, but it doesn't explain why he's closing his Lake County and Wisconsin locations as well.
Wally
8:50 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I'm typing this slower so maybe you can understand it. - "which just goes to show how far reaching and oppressive the taxation in this area really is" - figure it out yet?
Bucephalus
9:26 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
How did the "far reaching oppressive taxation" affect LaCrosse, WI? You do realize Wally that the LaCrosse location is in a different state, with different taxes? Nor does the Libertyville location pay Cook County taxes since it is in Lake County.
Wally
4:31 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
County Taxes + State Taxes + Federal Taxes = Taxed Enough Already. Or were you not aware that the other two locations were also part of a county and part of a state? Part of the 50 US States - not the 57 that the socialist in the white house thinks there are.
And Lake County still pays state tax, even though their county tax is not as high as Cook County, which was the highest in the entire country.
And by the way, LaCrosse is part of LaCrosse County, which has voted majority Democrat in every presidential election since at least as far back as 1988.
Are you unaware that small businesses are hurting to the the burgeoning tax burden foisted upon them by the liberal left? And that tax rates were just increased for successful individuals who run successful businesses? And that the full effect of obamacare hasn't even taken effect yet?
Keep drinking the far-left kool-aid and turning a blind eye to reality.