A Century-Old Store That Felt Immortal
Some stores feel eternal. They survive recessions, world wars, housing crashes, and changing tastes. They’re the kind of places you expect to always be there, quietly holding their corner of Main Street. For the people of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Sherman’s Sports was exactly that.
Founded in 1922, Sherman’s wasn’t just a store — it was a companion to the town’s history. Families grew up shopping there. Tourists discovered it while passing through. Locals relied on it for gear, gifts, and those small purchases that carried bigger memories.
But after 103 years, the legendary shop has closed its doors for the last time. Its farewell is not the result of failure, but of retirement. And yet, for the community, the loss feels much deeper.
From General Store to Local Institution
When Louis Sherman opened the doors in 1922, the shop sold a little bit of everything: sporting goods, jewelry, army surplus, and even pawned items. Over time, the store’s focus shifted, but one thing stayed constant — it adapted.
By the late 1940s, Louis’s son, Kalman, had taken over after returning from Marine service. He grew the business while keeping its neighborhood feel. Later, Kalman’s daughter Becky and her husband Rex Banadyga guided Sherman’s into a new era, emphasizing outdoor clothing, footwear, souvenirs, and sports gear.
Even as trends changed and competitors rose and fell, Sherman’s remained a fixture on North Main Street. For locals, it became the oldest continuously operating retail business in Hendersonville — a badge of honor not many towns can claim.
A Store Full of Memories
Sherman’s wasn’t just about products. It was about people. For generations, kids got their first .22 rifles, Lionel train sets, TinkerToys, Barbie dolls, and Tonka trucks here. Shoppers picked up swimwear for the summer or sturdy boots for the mountain trails. Others stopped by simply to browse, catch up with a neighbor, and enjoy the kind of customer service you don’t often find anymore.
Owner Becky Banadyga recalls hearing countless stories from locals as news of the closure spread. “Lots of people sad to see us go have memories… stories of getting their first BB gun or their first dolls,” she said. For many, stepping inside Sherman’s was like stepping into a timeline of their own lives.
Moments like those made the store feel less like retail and more like a living scrapbook — a place where the town’s milestones were quietly celebrated at the counter.
The Community Reacts
Without a website or even an official social media page, Sherman’s Sports relied on word of mouth and community connection. So when the closure was announced, it wasn’t through a corporate press release but through a heartfelt post on a local Facebook page.
Residents responded with emotion. “Sherman’s has always been a place where people gather, where familiar faces bring comfort, and where you can count on kindness with every visit,” one tribute read. Another longtime customer shared: “Thank you Shermans for being there always. I bought clothes, boots, Henderson County shirts, even a guitar. You were the dependable store on that end of my hometown.”
Some wished new owners could take over to keep it alive. But for Becky, retirement felt right, and her daughters didn’t plan to continue the business. The chapter had run its course.
Why Businesses Rarely Survive a Century
The closing of Sherman’s highlights a bigger truth: very few companies last 100 years anymore. Research shows the average lifespan of major companies has been shrinking for decades.
Stanford professor Charles O’Reilly calls the secret to longevity “organizational ambidexterity” — the ability to balance today’s success with tomorrow’s changes. Most companies fail at this balance. They either cling too tightly to the past or chase new trends without a stable base.
Sherman’s managed something remarkable. Though it didn’t expand nationwide, its ability to evolve while staying rooted in community needs is what gave it such longevity. From pawned items to outdoor gear, it stayed relevant while never losing its small-town soul.
Against the Odds: When Chains Didn’t Make It
Sherman’s survival looks even more impressive against the backdrop of national chains that didn’t last. Over the past decade, sporting goods retailers like Modell’s, Sport Chalet, Golfsmith, and MC Sports shut their doors. More recently, Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports filed for bankruptcy, with multiple closures across the country.
If big brands with deep pockets couldn’t weather the storm, how did a single family-owned shop in Hendersonville manage it for more than a century? The answer lies in loyalty, adaptability, and the deep trust of a community that saw it as more than a place to shop.
That trust doesn’t show up on a balance sheet, but it’s the reason a light stayed on at 126 North Main Street for so long.
A Bittersweet Farewell
Sherman’s Sports marked its 100th anniversary in 2022, celebrating a century of service. Just three years later, it has closed forever. The store’s final gesture was a going-out-of-business sale, offering 25% off everything. But what customers really took home were memories.
For Hendersonville, losing Sherman’s feels like losing a piece of its identity. The storefront may soon be filled by another business, but the history tied to those walls will remain unmatched.
When a place like this closes, you don’t just miss the merchandise. You miss the conversations. The faces. The feeling of belonging.
Lessons From a Century-Old Store
The end of Sherman’s Sports is bittersweet. It’s a reminder that even the strongest institutions are not immune to time. Yet it also offers a lesson worth carrying forward: longevity comes from connection.
Sherman’s didn’t survive 103 years because it followed the latest retail trends. It survived because it served people, adapted quietly, and became a part of daily life. In an era when businesses rise and fall quickly, that’s a legacy worth remembering.
Communities don’t just support local stores. Local stores help build the communities around them. Sherman’s did that, day after day, for more than a century.
Closing Thought
Sherman’s Sports may be closing, but its spirit lives on in Hendersonville. It leaves behind stories of first purchases, family traditions, and community connection. More than a store, it was a gathering place — a piece of living history.
In a time when “local” matters more than ever, Sherman’s reminds us that the best businesses aren’t just about transactions. They’re about relationships, resilience, and roots that run deep.
Hendersonville will move forward, but it will always carry Sherman’s in its story.