I usually have great experiences at Big Five stores. This was my first time in this particular store. We had our 2 year old with us. After walking around the store for about a half an hour I was just about to purchase a punching bag when my daughter, who is potty training, said she needed to use the restroom. It is obvious that they do not have a public restroom but my wife asked anyway if our daughter could use a restroom. The associate said no because of company policy. What! I turned and clarified by restating that the company would not allow a 2 YEAR OLD use the restroom and again he said no and did not even bother to get a manager. So we immediately left the store without a purchase.
After we left I called the store to speak to the manager on duty about the situation. Same response. Actually, he said it was policy because of shoplifters. Great people skills. Long story short, I may visit a Big Five in the distant future but NOT this one.
MANAGEMENT-- teach your associates and managers to use discretion in their decision making process. Sure, someone MAY attempt to steal something, but you DEFINITELY lost a customer. BTW the vast majority of shoplifters will not ask a sales associate to escort them to the bathroom as the fact is that the item would need to already be concealed so why bother.