Soccer Madness joins athletic gear game

There's a new player in town when it comes to outfitting soccer players.

Soccer Madness recently opened at 364 W. Half Day Road in Buffalo Grove. Husband and wife team Lisa and Mike Mathis, who reside in north Arlington Heights, launched the soccer specialty retail store at Route 22 and Buffalo Grove Road.

The 3,000-square-foot store is able to fit the 6-year-old player and the serious athlete, carrying everything from shin guards to soccer balls. Small shoes for beginners start at $23 while shoes to elite athletes can hit $350. Apparel for soccer moms is also included in the mix.

Soccer Madness also specializes in team uniforms from recreational to travel soccer clubs as well as high school uniforms. The business offers lettering, embroidery, screen printing, digital printing and heat transfers for uniforms. "We're grounded with the local clubs," Mike Mathis said.

In creating the look of the store, the owners wanted something that would stand out. "We went with more of an urban city feel," Mathis said. The floors have a faux finished concrete stain look while the ceiling was removed and painted to give the space a trendy warehouse look.

Mike developed a love for soccer while attending Indiana University, where he met his wife. The couple's youngest son, Jake, 11, also plays.

Mike, 44, left his corporate career in the insurance and insurance brokerage industry where he most recently worked for Aon Corp. Lisa worked in management for Gap.

Many people question the couple's timing in launching a business in a faltering economy.

"In this area, parents find a way to make it happen for their children," Mathis said. "We believe there's a huge market opportunity."

Mathis, a Buffalo Grove High School graduate, believes the economy also helped him secure licensing agreements with big athletic name brand companies, which would be more difficult to obtain during a booming economy.

He presented an 85-page business plan during a 14-month process to secure the deal. "We accomplished the impossible here," Mathis said. The entrepreneurs are holding a grand opening celebration the weekend of March 7.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call (847) 947-2060. Mathis expects to have soccermadnessonline.com operational by the end of the week.