If you love the big-box vibe, by all means go to Sports Authority. If you value the personal touch, though, Fischer's Pro-Line Sports is well worth seeking out. In an era when the independently owned sporting-goods store is threatened with extinction, this family-run store in Florissant is a chip off the old block, priding itself on quality goods, superior customer service and an inventory that caters to the true athlete, not the touring fan. Fischer's opened its doors for the first time in 1934 and is still chugging along four generations down the road. If you need to outfit your kid's team with uniforms, Dick Fischer will come to one of your practices and take measurements to ensure a good fit. If you need a new basketball to take to college, Donnie Fischer will help you choose the best one. The business got its start selling clothing to farmers, but by the 1980s it had shifted into a full-service sports operation. And that's a win for St. Louis.