The Sports Link celebrating growth and planning a move

A popular soccer store in Kitchener is planning a big move to a former, beloved bowling alley.

The Sports Link, a retailer selling soccer equipment and memorabilia, first opened more than three decades ago. Since then, the sport of soccer has grown immensely in Canada, and the nation is set to host the sport’s biggest and most prestigious event, the World Cup.

Mario Halapir, the owner of The Sports Link, noted that the interest for soccer in Waterloo Region specifically is soaring today compared to when he opened the business back in the early ’90s.

“A lot of people had questions when I dove into that business,” said Halapir. “They said ‘Soccer? What is that? How are you going to make it a go?’ It was definitely in a different state than where it is now.”

Halapir and his partners at The Sports Link are nearing the completion of the purchase of the Towne Bowl building, a beloved local business that closed its doors in 2023 after more than 60 years.

The space at their future building will allow Halapir’s team more retail space and room to store merchandise on-site rather than at a warehouse.

“My family is always number one in my life, but I think soccer’s been two, three, four, five, six, and so on,” said Halapir. “I’ve been passionate about the game for a long time. Started playing on the streets when I was four or five years old. I continue to do that and have great passion for the game.”

Outside of his entrepreneurial ventures, Halapir coaches the Laurier Golden Hawks soccer team and has developed an academy system at the Kitchener Soccer Club.

“I love being on the field still,” said Halapir.

There is still plenty of work left to be done before The Sports Link moves into their new location, but Halapir noted that there will be some exciting announcements in the future.

“Without the local community, we wouldn’t exist,” said Halapir. “I still consider us a mom-and-pop shop. We’re dealing with people that we now have serviced for 30-something years. We have generational customers.”

They hope to be open at the new location by the end of 2025.