Nita Mordecai had a gigantic smile on her face on April 3.

That is the day she and her husband Danny announced they have sold their long-time business, Mordecai Sporting Goods in Gardendale.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Danny Mordecai. “We’ve been doing it so long. We’ve made a lot of good friends.”

“We appreciate everything everyone has done for us,” Nita added.

The Mordecais said they are ready to slow down, 29 years after opening their sporting goods business.

“Mordecai’s needs to be rejuvenated for the younger crowd,” Nita said.

They seem to have found just the right couple.

Jeremy and Kandice Logan became the new owners on March 14.

They are new to the sporting goods business; Jeremy worked in the banking software industry for 10 years before buying Mordecai’s and Kandice co-owns a custom drapery business. They will both be spending plenty of time in the sporting goods store, Jeremy said.

The couple lives in Gardendale; Jeremy graduated from Gardendale High School and Kandice graduated from Mortimer Jordan.

“I don’t know a lot about sporting goods, but I know people,” Jeremy said. “It’s fun having people you know come through the door every day.”

The Logans said they plan to carry on the same high level of customer service that patrons are accustomed to at Mordecai’s

“I’ve got big shoes to fill when it comes to taking care of people like Mrs. Nita and Mr. Danny have,” Jeremy Logan said. “I hope to look back in 30 years and have had a successful business like they have.”

Logan said it will be business as usual for customers, with a few changes. The store will continue providing uniforms and accessories to teams at the park, high school and college levels, but he also wants to increase the retail business and “freshen up” the retail space.

Mordecai’s first opened in the Garden Shopping Center in Gardendale before moving to the Northgate Shopping Center near the current Hobby Lobby store. The store moved to its current location at 809 Main Street in 1995.

All eight of the store’s employees will remain on board. Many of them have worked at Mordecai’s for more than 20 years, Logan said.

Although he has much to learn about the business end of things, he is familiar with sporting goods from the other perspective.

“When I played ball at the park, I got my sporting goods from Mordecai’s,” he said.