This month, the Kirkland family celebrates one year since taking over ownership and operation of The Fan Zone in Evans. “My wife, Regina, and I are co-owners of the business with our son, Ben,” shares Bryan Kirkland, a native of Columbia County. “Since we took over in September of last year, we have re-inventoried the store and really focused on improving customer service.”
“We’ve significantly upped the amount of Georgia products we carry, and we’ve also begun to carry items from a lot of other teams because we're a melting pot here in Augusta,” he explains. “We’re a couple hours away from four or five major universities and, on top of that, you've got smaller universities like Georgia Southern where so many kids are going to from this area. Parents want to support the schools where their kids go, so we've decided to include items from Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Clemson, and South Carolina.” The Kirklands hope to add items from Augusta University and local high schools as well.
When customers walk in the door, they find associates ready to talk sports and assist them in finding the perfect item for themselves or as a gift. “We really enjoy what we do,” says Bryan. “We love going to Georgia games and we love going to Braves games. But, when I go to a Braves game, I don't want to stand in a two-and-a-half-hour line to get in the pro shop to buy a polo or a hat. I want to go to the Braves game to see the Braves game. We think there's a lot of like-minded people around here who feel the same way.” With that in mind, the store inventory is conveniently stocked with high quality apparel and fan favorites.
The store’s inventory also includes items made by local artisans such as Pine Empire, GA Clay Company, and Created with Purpose. “People want to support local businesses and I think that’s just awesome,” says Bryan. “We have items from major manufacturers in here, but we carry a lot of items made locally as well.”
Additionally, the store carries sports memorabilia on consignment including autographed jerseys, helmets, baseball bats, cards, and more. “I've been a Georgia fan my whole life - my whole house, my whole wardrobe is full of Georgia stuff,” explains Bryan. “When I go to a store, I'm looking for something unique and that's what we're trying to do here. We're trying to carry something that the average sports fan doesn't have. When you come into our store, it’s more than just coming here to buy t-shirts for the season, it's an experience because you're going to see things that you've never seen before.”
Stop by The Fan Zone at 4460 Washington Rd in Evans, shop online at fanzoneevans.com, or call 706-432-9444 to check inventory. Also, follow The Fan Zone on Facebook to see updates on sales and inventory.
