Kitsap Sports is a local, family-owned business, in the process of being passed along to the third generation, with success in the past as the foundation for a big move underway, and a lot of innovation in the sporting goods field.

Kitsap Sports will open Mon., Aug. 11 in its new location, all 33,000 square feet of it, in what was formerly Silverdale’s Sears Homelife furniture store, between Barnes and Noble’s and Home Depot.

Ora Degarimore and partners began Kitsap Sports and Camera on Callow Avenue in Bremerton in 1946. He was an avid outdoorsman, and the store reflected his love of hunting and fishing. Ora, who passed away in 1995, continued working in the business into his 90s.

That work ethic was passed along. Son John grew up working in his dad’s store, beginning with the lowly task of pushing a broom. As an adult, he and his wife Susie, bought into the business, becoming partners with Ora.

John and Susie’s son David says a lot of innovation that changed the look and scope of the store came from his visionary father’s input. “He grew it from 2,000 square feet to what it is now.” The current location is 12,500 square feet in size.

“I got to see the good in what my grandfather did, and the reputation he had in the community,” continues David. “I still hear good things about him from customers today.”

According to Susie, the store still is known for its hometown service and caring attitude. She says they have jokingly referred to their business as “the family farm.”

They have also contributed much to the community by way of sponsoring teams, donating to schools and other organizations helping children, donating skis to a ski school for the handicapped, and allowing local students to job-shadow store employees.

When David’s turn came to help out, around age 9, his mother surmises, he also began with clean-up duty, as well as organizing things.

While growing up, David experienced what he calls “the school of hard knocks,” with both his dad and his grandfather placing high expectations on him. He says the business is in transition now, with more of the responsibility transferring to him.

Fifty-seven years after it all began, Ora’s grandson David Degarimore serves as president of the corporation he now co-owns with his wife Kimberly and his parents.

Some challenges he sees in family-owned businesses include the family dynamics, the changes in retail, the competition from chain stores, the Internet and warehouse stores, and the expectations and demands of customers. He indicates they must be fast and sharp in order to survive, and he thinks they’re up for the challenge.

One of David’s four siblings, a sister, is also in the business, serving as the store’s bookkeeper, which gives them great confidence in the honesty of the books.

David’s children are ages 1 and 2 now, and although no one can see into the future, he doubts the store will be fully family-owned into the next generation.

The move of sporting goods of all varieties will begin Sat., Aug. 2. The new store will feature a 2,000 square foot indoor skate board park, with capacity of 8-10 skaters, a couple of batting cages, and four golf stalls. The depth of sports products is immense.

While other businesses may draw customers by their marketing or location, the Degarimore family is expecting to continue to draw more and more by the try-it-out, come-in-and-have fun, activity-centered store, as well as that good old fashioned home-grown service.