At the time, Martin admitted he would likely have to close because of the decision.
The tagline for the campaign was, “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.”
Martin said his decision was inspired by his father-in-law’s military service and time as a prisoner-of-war.
“He said the hardest part for me was watching his fellow soldiers get beat up and killed in front of him and he couldn’t defend them because it would have cost him his life,” he said. “So Colin, you don’t know what sacrifice is, you just don’t know what it is, in my opinion.”
In a Feb. 11 Facebook post, Martin announced that his store is closing and he would be selling everything for a 40 percent discount.
“Thank You for 21 mostly good years. For everybody that has offered help and support through the ‘Honor The Flag’ memorial wall and NIKE boycott, now is your time to help me liquidate. Please do your Facebook thing with everyone you know so this can go as quickly as possible,” he wrote.
“I just can’t keep the doors open anymore. Being a sports store without Nike is kind of like being a milk store without milk or a gas station without gas. How do you do it? They have a monopoly on jerseys,” he said.
Martin said he’s still been selling team apparel but doesn’t have any jerseys because of his decision to drop Nike. He also canceled an autograph session with Brandon Marshall back in 2016 because of Marshall’s participation in the kneeling campaign.
“As much as I hate to admit this, perhaps there are more Brandon Marshall and Colin Kaepernick supporters out there than I realized,” said Martin. Still, he didn’t regret either decision.
“I didn’t give in to big Nike and big dollars. I didn’t give in. I did it my way,” he said.
People responding to Martin’s announcement had differing opinions on what unfolded.
“That is why businesses need to stay focused on business not politics,” one user said. “You ruined your own business for nothing. The bottom line is that people still want their products not your opinion. Remember that next time.”
“I have a absolutely [sic] no kinda of sympathy for you,” added another. “it’s like you and others like you that think yall are privileged and get away with the disrespect of others liberties.”
“Many have DIED to defend the rights the FLAG represents. I RESPECT that he took a stand to defend the FLAG........NO RESPECT for you SOCIALIST lovers,” added another.
“So sorry you have to pay a financial price for your patriotic beliefs,” said another.
