After 60 Years, General Surplus To Close

A sporting goods store that has been a downtown Dayton fixture for six decades is getting ready to close its doors.

The owner said General Surplus Outfitters has fallen victim to online shopping, competition from suburban big-box stores and the decline of downtown retailing.

Sidney Schultz, 58, said shutting down the family business is similar to performing major surgery on yourself without anesthesia. But he's not bitter, saying that staying in the same location for 60 years amounts to a really good run.

Just 13 years ago, G.S. Outfitters was thriving and had 33 employees. Schultz said more recently, he was just breaking even, and last year the store began losing money.