About Us

We’re proud of our long & storied history.

1958
Zide's Sport Shop was founded by Bob Zide.
1964
Expanded to include retail, team sales, athletic equipment, uniforms, lettering, and a trophy division.
1973
Opened first mall store in Grand Central Mall, Vienna, WV and incorporated the business.
1975
Moved the Marietta store to its current location and expanded lettering to include screen-printing.
1977
Screen-printing division moved into a 5,000 sq. ft. facility with heat seal and sewing divisions.
1978
Added computerized embroidery. Opened a store in Ohio Valley Mall, St. Clairsville, OH.
1981
Opened a store in Huntington Mall, Barboursville, WV.
1983
Opened a store in Meadowbrook Mall, Bridgeport, WV.
1988
Opened a store in University Mall, Athens, OH.
1992
Trophy and jacket production moved adjacent to lettering. Vienna, WV location refurbished.
1994
Built a new 4,400 sq. ft. football reconditioning division.
1996
Upgraded lettering facility with a 12-head embroidery machine, design digitizer, and graphics software.
1999
Pivotal decision made to focus on team sales as the core business.

When Bob Zide established Zides Sport Shop in 1958, he wanted to mix his passion for sports with his understanding of athletic business. Bob ‘s experience coordinating YMCA sports leagues and establishing local youth baseball programs, as well as lessons learned during his semi-pro baseball career, gave him an appreciation of the role equipment and safety plays in sports.

During his lifetime, Bob set the standard for sports innovation. Zides was the first team dealer in the country in individually fit helmets and shoulder pads on football players. It was also one of the first companies to establish continual equipment training programs for sales people.

As for product innovations, Bob himself held nine U.S. patents on equipment including the Shockblocker® football faceguard attachment, now used extensively throughout the NFL, NCAA and high school.

Over the past 45 years, Zides has also maintained a commitment to growth. After opening a series of stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Zides began focusing on team sports. In 1994, the store opened an expansive 4,400 sq. ft. football reconditioning facility. Just two years later, Zides upgraded their lettering facility with a 12-head embroidery machine and design digitizer. In 1999, the lettering facility also received a one-head and a six-head embroidery machine, a new dryer and an autopress machine, making it the largest and most modern facility in Ohio and West Virginia.