Photo by Erin Nelson.
A patron shops at Bandwagon Sports in Heights Village in Vestavia Hills. Bandwagon Sports recently opened a new location in Trussville.
Sporting goods and sportswear retailer Bandwagon Sports is now open in Trussville and is planning a future signature store in the downtown district.
Launched in 2021 by Homewood resident and entrepreneur David Knight, Bandwagon Sports has grown from a single location to stores in Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Trussville as well as a store opening in Jackson, Mississippi, later this fall.
The Trussville Bandwagon Sports store is temporarily located on Gadsden Highway near the intersection of Deerfoot Parkway. However, the company is expected to break ground on a permanent location at the corner of North Chalkville Road and Gadsden Highway this fall.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Bandwagon to Trussville,” Knight said. “We’ve been working on this opportunity for over a year, and we couldn’t be more excited to make this announcement.”
Knight and his wife, Leah, opened Bandwagon Sports following a slowdown in his sports marketing business, Knight Eady, due to COVID-19. The Knights had toyed with the idea for a boutique sporting goods store for some time, but he admits “we never thought we would do it.” However, with the pandemic-related shutdowns negatively affecting the business of live sports, the Knights thought it was the right time to test their concept.
The first Bandwagon Sports opened on 18th Street South in downtown Homewood in January 2021. The second location opened in Vestavia Hills’ Cahaba Heights community in early August 2023, followed by the temporary location in Trussville just two weeks later. David Knight said that Trussville was on their radar screen for expansion from day one.
“When we opened Homewood, we knew we wanted to grow the store to other places and Trussville was at the top of the list,” he said. “We knew that Trussville was the type of community that we wanted to be in, and the feedback is already very positive.”
Bandwagon Sports, Knight said, is a blend of a sporting goods store and an athleisure wear/casual wear boutique. Each store focuses on clothing and related items featuring the local school logos and mascots, so shoppers can expect tons of Hewitt Husky gear at the Trussville location.
The Knights have four children ranging from kindergarten to seventh grade, all of whom are active in sports and other activities. Knight said Bandwagon Sports is the type of store they prefer to shop at.
“I tell people our family is our target demographic. The young family that has kids active in sports and activities, that’s who our target market is,” he said.
The new Bandwagon Sports location, Knight said, will be approximately 3,600 square feet and is expected to open in early-to-mid 2024. He said the store will feature basic sporting goods such as soccer cleats, baseball bats and gloves, tennis racquets and lacrosse gear, as well as activewear for adults such as tennis skirts and golf shirts.
“We think that we’ve got a concept that really works. When you look at retail, much of it has gone to e-commerce, whether it’s Amazon or other platforms,” Knight said. “We really feel like people want the community feel of a retail store. I think people like and appreciate walking into a little bit of a smaller setting, finding what they want, knowing who’s behind the counter and being able to build that relationship.”
Bandwagon Sports is another key retailer for the booming downtown Trussville retail and entertainment district. In a statement released by Bandwagon Sports, Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat said the store is a welcome addition to the city’s thriving small business community.
“I’ve been anticipating this announcement for some time now,” Choat said. “We are thrilled to have Bandwagon join a great group of retailers here in Trussville. Bandwagon’s commitment to community, schools and athletics will continue to enhance our growth here in Trussville.”
Bandwagon Sports is currently located at 7129 Gadsden Highway in Trussville. Learn more at bandwagonsports.com.
