Sporting goods industry employee opens shop in city
Tom Storf left the sporting goods industry in January after 41 years. He was gone for two months.
Storf returned last week with the launch of Fanatic Impressions at 166 S. Main St., downtown Washington -a well-struck 3-wood from his South Main Street home.
“You take a shot and see what happens,” said Storf, 59, the sole owner and only name on the payroll. “The town is nice, the people are nice, but we need some more businesses.”
He added to the equation, opening the shop March 16, with a spiffy logo on the sign out front. Storf deals in sporting goods, apparel, screen printing, team sales, memorabilia and Greek life. This, of course, includes T-shirts, letter jackets and athletic gear.
“We can pretty much take care of all sports,” Storf said, looking around a shop now featuring a bevy of baseball items.
There won’t be many shoes, though. Storf said the footwear essentially will be limited to cheerleaders’ shoes and some special orders.
His targets include local teams, high schools, businesses, college organizations and anyone coming into the shop.
Sports stuff has been his bailiwick since he was 18. Storf said he was a longtime employee of Ace Reconditioners, on Henderson Avenue, before working at Fanatic Fan in Washington Crown Center – then Franklin Mall – for a few years in the early 1990s. Both are now gone.
He returned to Ace, which eventually was taken over by Riddell, the football equipment firm. Storf worked for Riddell for five years “before parting ways in January.”
Saying he “was able to find funding,” Storf decided to strike out on his own . . . well, almost on his own. His son, Zach, and daughter, Tracie Giuntini, help him voluntarily.
Storf is cautiously optimistic, with an emphasis on optimistic. He is in a comfort zone.
“It’s a fun thing to do. I’ve been doing it all my life. It’s not rocket science.
“I’d rather try this and fail than not to have tried at all.”
Fanatic Impressions is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and evenings by appointment for groups. Storf said he, his son and daughter are working on a website. To contact the store, call 724-206-0285; send an email to fanaticimpressions@gmail.com; or visit facebook.com/pages/Fanatic-Impressions/160022814020135.