Burghardt’s Sporting Goods Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
edited by Michael R. Reilly
Last Updated07/17/2014
Photograph courtesy of Milwaukee Public Library
Description
Title Remember When…Burghardt’s was a book store?
Description The Burghardt Sporting Goods company got its start in business as a bookstore more than 100 years ago. Milwaukee in the 1880s was very German in influence, and German newspapers and books were sold along with books and magazines in English. This very early photograph shows the store’s first location on Water St. By 1884, Charles Burghardt has moved the business to Oneida St. (now Wells St.) near Water St., and the company stayed at that location for many years. A major source of sales for the booksellers was the schools, and as physical education programs developed, Burghardt salesmen saw the opportunity to sell sports equipment. Gradually the company shifted its emphasis. Today, Burghardt Sporting Goods is located at 6320 W. Capitol Dr., and recently opened a second store at 4638 S. 76th St. Photograph and information courtesy of Chip Burghardt.
source:http://content.mpl.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/RememberWhe/id/383/rec/1 All rights reserved © Milwaukee Public Library
Why Burghardt’s?
Burghardt’s provided sporting goods to many Wisconsin area sports teams and leagues. Besides selling uniforms and other equipment, they provided trophies on which the name “Burghardt Trophy” was prominently etched on the front name plate.
The Depot Museum in Sussex, Wisconsin has several baseball jerseys and trophies from the company on display in an exhibit highlighting Lannon and Sussex-Lisbon Land O’ Lakes baseball history and teams.
From: Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc. [mailto:slahsinc@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 11:07 AM
To: brian@bsg1881.com
Subject: Burghardt Trophy History
Hello Brian, I’m putting together an exhibit at our Depot Museum in Sussex, and happen to have two Burghardt trophies from 1935 Land O’ Valleys and 1939 Land O’ Rivers for the Sussex teams.
I was wondering, from a history standpoint, when did Burghardt begin providing trophies, 1881? When did the company stop providing trophies?
Were the trophies free or did the teams or leagues, in the Land O’ Lakes circuits, pay for them? The 1935 and 39 trophies have Burghardt name prominently engraved on the front, as if the trophy was a special presentation piece offered by Burghardt.
I had hoped you were still in the trophy business, since our two trophies are missing the little bat which stuck in small batter hand hole.
thank you for your time and consideration.
Mike
Michael R. Reilly
SLAHS.org Website Editor & Assistant Museum Curator
Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc.
Sussex, Wisconsin
On Monday, June 30, 2014 2:40 PM, Brian Burghardt <brian@bsg1881.com> wrote:
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the email. Unfortunately I am not sure I can answer these questions. I can tell you that we only stopped making trophies in about 1998 or so because there are several trophy shops in the Milwaukee area and this was a smaller and smaller part of our business at that time, so we closed it down. I do not know when we started making trophies or the nature of the agreement we had with the Leagues.
I wish I could be of more help, but unfortunately we have not done as good a job keeping track of the history of our company as I would have liked. Let me know if you find out anything because I would certainly be interested.
Thanks,
Brian Burghardt
Burghardt Sporting Goods
Direct Line– 262.432.8785
General Line– 262.790.1170 ext. 785
www.burghardtsportinggoods.com
To Brian Burghardt
Jun 30
Brian, I did find a 1959 article where a person donated a Burghardt trophy given to the Port Washington baseball team in 1929 to the library in 1959, in other words the trophy was 30 yrs old, and it said on the front plate – Burghardt Trophy. On the back side was listed the team members.
Michael R. Reilly
SLAHS.org Website Editor & Assistant Museum Curator
Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc.
Sussex, Wisconsin
Next generation takes over at Burghardt Sporting Goods
Brian, Carl and Kathy Burghardt recently purchased Burghardt Sporting Goods from their mother and father, Connie and Chip Burghardt. The purchase was finalized in early February and made the brothers and sister the fifth generation of the Burghardt family to own the sporting goods store, in business since 1881.
The three are equal partners in the business.
The buyout agreement calls for Chip and Connie Burghardt to be paid out over a 10-year period, Brian Burghardt said. Chip Burghardt will continue working at the store for the foreseeable future.
That 10-year transfer process fits in with the fifth-generation owners’ plans for the business.
“It’s our intention to grow it for the sixth generation,” Brian Burghardt said. “We’ll treat it as Chip has. It’s something that you work during your career and prepare to pass it on. That’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to go so long.”
Brian and Kathy have been working in the family sporting goods store for about 13 years, and Carl has been working there for about eight years. Kathy handles the store’s human resources and office management functions, while Brian and Carl deal with buying and sales matters.
Most of Burghardt Sporting Goods’ sales are in team sports such as baseball, football, lacrosse and softball. Because the store is locally owned and keeps in regular contact with officials from local leagues and high school and college sports teams, it is able to react quickly to rule changes or trends.
“People like the hands-on approach,” Kathy said.
Brian agreed, and said the family routinely deals with parents who started as little league coaches and have moved into coaching club and high school teams as their children get older.
In 2007, Burghardt Sporting Goods’ sales grew by about 10 percent from the previous year.
The store now has about 40 employees and occupies 20,000 square feet at 14660 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield.
The sporting goods store was expanded by 5,000 square feet two years ago and has enough room for at least the next two years, Brian said. However, its new owners are already thinking about the company’s next expansion.
“The next step would be a second location,” he said. “In the next couple of years, we will seriously go after that second location.”
Neither Chip, Brian, Carl or Kathy would speculate where a second Burghardt Sporting Goods location would be, but all four said the store will find ways to serve new customers and markets.
“We all have ideas of expansion in the future,” Brian said.
Burghardt Sporting Goods
Address: 14660 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield
Employees: 40
2007 sales growth: 10 percent
Web site: www.Burghardtsportinggoods.com
5th Generation joins Burghardt Sporting Goods
Aug. 13, 2010
source:http://www.germantownnow.com/userstoriessubmitted/100650314.html
Brookfield, WI August 1st 2010 Brian, Carl, Kathy and their father, Chip Burghardt, welcome the youngest member of the family, Lynn Burghardt Kaul, to the family owned Burghardt Sporting Goods. The brothers and sisters are the 5th generation of the Burghardt family to own the sporting goods store.
Brian, Carl and Kathy Burghardt purchased the business from their mother and father, Connie and Chip Burghardt in 2008. “We’ve been looking forward to this moment for a very long time. With Lynn joining our already talented staff, we are very excited about our future. When we call it a family business, we’re not kidding around”, said Brian Burghardt.
Brian handles Sales and Marketing; Carl works with Sales and Inventory Management; and Kathy handles Administrative and Office Management responsibilities. Lynn will handle Retail Sales, Training and Merchandising. “I’m proud to be part of our family business tradition. The opportunity to bring pride to past and future Burghardt generations by running and growing a successful customer focused operation is key! The Burghardt Sporting Goods name has been around since 1881 and we plan to keep it going forever. The excitement is overwhelming”, said Lynn.
Lynn is married, has a 2 year old child and resides in Cedarburg.
Lynn graduated from Homestead High School and was previously employed by
M&I Bank in Ozaukee County.
Burghardt Sporting Goods has been family owned and operated in the Milwaukee area since 1881. They are one of the oldest family owned sporting goods retailers in the nation. Burghardt Sporting Goods is a full-service team sporting goods outfitter located at 146th & Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin. For more information, call (262) 790-1170 or visitwww.burghardtsportinggoods.com .
Burghardt’s Sporting Goods 14660 W Capitol Dr
Brookfield, WI 53005
Proud sponsor of the Baseball Big League Dodgers.
Burghardt Sporting Goods – since 1881. With indoor batting cages and a huge selection of baseball equipment and shoes, Burghardt Sporting Goods will meet all your baseball needs 
source: http://www.fallslittleleague.org/Page.php?page_id=6