Maricopa’s Big 5 Sporting Goods store, which has been open at 41800 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway since January 2017, will permanently close on November 8.

A branch employee, who wished to remain anonymous in an interview this morning, cited “rent” as the reason.

“The rent has increased significantly,” said the employee.

Employees at the Maricopa store learned about the company’s closing of the store about three weeks ago.

The closure will affect 15 employees who will be “taken over” by other Big 5 branches, the source said.

“We would like to find properties in the city, but that’s something for people who earn a little more than me,” said the store clerk.

The employee said the move out of the building, constructed in 2016, should be completed by Thanksgiving.

Sources familiar with the building said it would be a school for children with autism and ADHD, but this could not be immediately confirmed.