Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc., a national sporting goods retail chain, announced it plans to open a store in Gloucester next month. The store will be located at the Shoppes at Gloucester, just south of Gloucester Court House on Route 17, and is slated to open Dec. 3, according to Brad Walton, real estate manager for Hibbett.

Jeff Gray, vice president of real estate for Hibbett, said the company plans to employ eight full- and part-time team members.

Hibbett sells a large selection of quality branded athletic equipment, footwear and apparel, Gray said. The staff focuses on knowledgeable, friendly customer service, he said, and tries to provide customers with information about the products they stock. The store will concentrate on the needs of local teams and leagues. Gray said the local store will offer a variety of services to meet the needs of coaches and players alike.

Hibbett is based in Birmingham, Alabama. The company operates over 1,000 full-line sporting goods stores in small ...