Toowoomba’s Intersport sporting goods store on Ruthven Street to shut doors in CBD within weeks

A longstanding retail shop in Toowoomba’s CBD has announced it will close its doors soon, in a move that one councillor described as “sad”.

Intersport Toowoomba is closing down, Monday, October 7, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Toowoomba CBD is losing another locally-owned retailer, as Intersport announced it was shutting after 14 years in business.

The Intersport on Ruthven Street has announced it will shut its doors soon, holding a closing down sale.

It is unclear when the shop will officially close.

The sporting goods store is part of the network of Intersport outlets across Australia.

The news was met with sadness by locals, including Toowoomba councillor and small business owner Edwina Farquhar.

“This makes me sad. A business that has operated here for 14 years is closing their doors,” she wrote on social media.

“Please buy local whenever you can from both locally owned and operated stores and don’t forget that national franchises employ locals too.

“Retail is getting squeezed right now with increased labour rates, superannuation, energy costs, insurance costs, interest rates, rent often pegged with CPI.

“Retailers can only increase their prices so much before customers go elsewhere. It’s a tricky old time.”

Prior to Intersport, the lease for the property had been held by defunct audiovisual retail Wow Sight and Sound.

Intersport’s Queensland owners were contacted for comment about the closure.