Where to get things you need

By Annie Mateen
Staff Writer

So you know where to go when you want groceries or fashionable clothes. You even know where to get certain items at a discount price. But what stores do you hit when you need a tube of racquet balls or a prescription filled?
In the Los Angeles area, you'll find plenty of specialty stores to fulfill your needs. Being in downtown does have its disadvantages; you'll need a car to reach most of these places.
Perhaps you've finally talked yourself into taking that tennis class or joining an intramural team, but you don't have the proper equipment. Your next move is to find a sporting goods store.
Sporting Goods
Oshman's Sporting Goods is the "oldest sporting company in California," said John O'Neill, store manager of the Santa Monica branch. All Oshman's stores are having a sale to celebrate their 78th year in business. But if you miss this sale, there will be others. Oshman's runs ads in the Los Angeles Times twice a month and, during the holidays, they have sales on a weekly basis.
Their selection is limited compared to other sporting goods chains, but they do carry the basic essentials: athletic wear, tennis rackets, body boards and work-out equipment -- free weights and jump ropes. Unfortunately, Oshman's lacks a wide variety of each item, because of the stores' small size. It's a great place if you know what you need and are only looking for basic sporting goods.
Big 5 Sporting Goods has a decent cross-section of merchandise -- camping gear, athletic wear, work-out equipment, hunting guns, boxing necessities, golf clubs and balls, and fishing poles -- but doesn't have a lot of any particular item.
"(We) don't specialize in one thing," said David Cole, store manager of the Santa Monica branch. And like Oshman's, Big 5 also places ads in the Los Angeles Times, announcing weekly sales. The staff at Big 5 is a little more knowledgeable than at Oshman's, but it is better for the customer to be prepared with some knowledge of what they are looking for beforehand.
Unlike Oshman's and Big 5, Sport Chalet has a large selection. In addition, they specialize in each sport they carry -- mountain climbing, skiing, water sports, tennis, fishing, golf, bicycling and other popular sports. And in each section, there is a knowledgeable staff person who not only participates in the same sport, but will also aid you in purchasing the equipment you need.
"Expertise --(in) each section (there are) people who know and participate in the sport all their life," said Erik Johnsen, repairs and rental shop manager and senior ski technician for the Marina del Rey branch. Also, they have free pamphlets that help you determine what your needs are and describe the necessary equipment.
And if you are not ready to commit to a particular sport or would like to try out a sport, Sport Chalet rents in-line skates, canoes, kayaks, camping equipment, scuba equipment, skis, snowboards, water skis and wakeboards. Prices for one-day rentals range from $4 for ski poles to $45 for a scuba diving package with computer. And prices for two-day rentals range from $5 to $55. For each additional day, prices range from $1 to $10. There is no fee for the days of pick-up and returns. They accept reservations, but they must be made in person for stays of two or more days.
Sport Chalet also has a repair shop inside their stores. If they are unable to fix the item in need of repair, they send the damaged item to Wilderness Workshop in Highland Park, where you will receive 30 percent off via Sport Chalet.
Drug Stores
Payless Drugs and Thrifty Drugstores, both owned by the same company and soon to be called Rite Aid, carry household essentials, hygiene products, a pharmacy, film-processing, make-up (Revlon, L'Oreal, and Almay) and an ice cream stand.
"Prices are affordable and everything you need is there," said Bethany Butler, a sophomore double-majoring in theater and creative writing.
Sav*on drug stores, like Payless Drugs and Thrifty, carry the same items and also have a pharmacy. Chris Carr, operating manager of Sav*on in Santa Monica, is proud of the "one-stop shopping" convenience it offers their customers. But because Sav*on lacks an ice cream stand, you don't have the luxury of eating a double-scoop of the ice cream of your choice while shopping, that the other two stores have.
Miscellaneous
Smart & Final: Food service, wholesale groceries and janitorial supplies. It sells large sizes and quantities of household cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies, frozen foods, basic produce items and party supplies.
"You buy in bulk and it lasts you the whole year," said Joe Tiernan, a sophomore majoring in international relations.
Smart & Final caters to small businesses and their basic needs. "(We) don't want them to go to nine different stores," said Jerry Miyamoto, store manager of the West Los Angeles branch.
There are sales once a month and a listing of some of the sale items is in their brochure, which can be found by the stores' entrance. Smart & Final does not compete or compare prices with surrounding supermarkets, but instead tries to keep consistent prices, he said. No membership is required for the warehouse-like environment.
Target has a wide selection of everything -- housewares, automotive supplies, clothes and accessories, pet supplies, hygiene products, electronics, toys, snacks, books and music. Target also has a fast-food restaurant inside its stores, which serves eggs for breakfast, burgers for lunch, snacks (french fries, nachos, popcorn and pretzels) and beverages. There is plenty of assistance and they are easy to spot with their red t-shirts. Target is the ultimate buy-it-all-in-one-place store, whose goal is to sell "high-quality merchandise at low prices," said Tim Kindig, assistant manager at the Culver City branch.

For more information, call Oshman's at (310) 393-1406, Big 5 at (310) 453-1747, Sports Chalet at (310) 821-9400, Thrifty at (213) 235-2171, Sav*on at (213) 770-1240, Smart & Final at (213) 733-5875 or Target at (310) 839-5200.