June 20 • 2019 19 jn C ustomers will be pleased to know that the cutting- edge apparel, footwear and equipment, and top- notch service they’ve long enjoyed at The Tennis & Golf Company are continuing under new ownership. For 42 years, including 20 in Royal Oak, founder David Schwartz “built a fine company with a reputation for quality and service that spread far beyond the local area,” said customer Steve Gold of Huntington Woods. Schwartz sold his spacious 18,000-square-foot store to experienced sporting-goods retailers Steve Kopitz and Andy Schepper. The partners started on May 1, pledging to improve upon the best aspects of The Tennis & Golf Company. “This location is the largest specialty tennis shop in the Midwest and one of the top five in the country,” Kopitz said. For 25 years he owned Summit Sports, with several area locations, including Don Thomas Sporthaus, in Birmingham. Kopitz, after selling his company, retired in 2016 and was living part-time in Naples, Fla., when presented with the opportunity to purchase The Tennis & Golf Company. “I wasn’t looking to get into another business, but I couldn’t see letting it go,” he said. Schepper, the CEO of The Tennis & Golf Company, worked with Kopitz at Summit Sports for more than 20 years. Given his expertise in e-commerce, Schepper is building Tennis & Golf’s first internet business. The website tennisracquets.com will launch later this year. Schepper is on premises at the store while Kopitz plans to work in more of a “strategic capacity.” Red letters spell out the Tennis & Golf name on the building on the west side of Woodward between 12 and 13 Mile roads. The extra-large store features a “shop within a shop” feel with knowledgeable, experienced sales staff in every department. A unique feature of the store is the 20’ x 70’ “hitting lane,” where a ball machine shoots tennis balls from the far wall. With “Demo Racquets” for virtually every model sold, customers can try out any racquet they like. “Why would you buy a racquet without trying it first?” Kopitz asked. “Your body will tell you which one is right.” With the largest selection of tennis racquets in the Midwest, customers can choose from brands including Wilson, Head, Babolat and Volkl. Trained staff will fit customers with the right grip and recommend the best strings and tension for their style of play. The Tennis & Golf Company can also service players of racquetball, badminton, squash and the increasingly popular pickleball. Racquets are custom-strung the same day, and often while customers wait. This time of year, with 50-100 requests daily, “our five stringing machines go non-stop,” Kopitz said. Sports lifestyle merchandise, with a focus on tennis and golf attire, arrives daily at the store, which has a longstanding reputation for stocking hot, niche brands. It continues to offer the best in that category as well as introducing new manufacturers. In menswear, look for names like Travis Matthew, Mizzen+Main, Devereux, Polo RLX and Chase 54. Popular national brands are also available, including Nike, Puma, Adidas and Under Armour. Fashion companies catering to women include Polo Golf, Daily Sports, Lucky in Love, GG Blue, Nivo, Bolle and Belyn Key — to name a few. Oliver Thomas makes a line of lightweight, stylish quilted bags. A large collection of sport bras is displayed near the six women’s dressing rooms. The Kids selection includes junior racquets, shoes, apparel and golf equipment. Adidas, Puma, Nike and Fila are some of the clothing brands for boys and girls. More than 150 models of athletic shoes for all ages are stocked. The shoes for tennis, running and golf include such brands as Adidas, Nike, Footjoy, New Balance and Wilson. Featured designer brand sunglasses include Maui Jim and Oakley. With all the new merchandise arriving daily, customers will find discounts of 50 percent or more in the store’s clearance room of still-fresh brand name designer items. “Every Day is a Sale” at The Tennis & Golf Company, and store members save even more on their purchases. Members get up to 25 percent off everyday prices, plus exclusive monthly specials and a $20 birthday credit. A one-year membership costs $39. The Tennis & Golf Company offers Sunday hours and stays open later during the week. Shop Monday-Thursday, 10-8; Friday, 10-5; Saturday, 9-5; and Sunday, 11-5. Tennis & Golf Company 30211 Woodward Royal Oak, MI 48073 (248) 435-6800 mytennisandgolf.com Esther Allweiss Ingber | Contributing Writer Photos by Derrick Martinez — ADVERTORIAL — Tennis & Golf Company partners Steve Kopitz and Andy Schepper Serving Up Top-Notch Services Pro-Shop services The Tennis & Golf Company offers a vareity of sportswear.