In 1985, at the height of Lebanon’s civil war, an 18-year-old volleyball player from a mountain village decided to open a small sports shop with his brother. Four decades later, Mike Sport stands as one of the region’s most recognizable Lebanese retail success stories. We sat down with founder Samir Saliba to talk about the early days, the adventure of entrepreneurship during war, the company’s 40th anniversary and what Lebanon still means to him.

How did Mike Sport begin?

I was 18 years old and living in Bteghrine, a small mountain village occupied by the Syrian army. I played volleyball, and back then it was very hard to find someone who could print numbers or names on team shirts. That’s how the idea started: we needed sports supplies and no one around us could provide them.

My brother Claude and I opened a small shop — 30 or 40 square meters — under our home. It was 1985–1986, and war erupted again in our area, so we had to close for months. When we reopened, even accessing the main road was a challenge. We would hike across mountains to reach our car in another area, then drive to Burj Hammoud or Jounieh for goods, carry everything back on our backs and climb up trails where sometimes there were mines. It was difficult, but it was also the beginning of everything.

Volleyball was Lebanon’s most popular sport back then, and I had strong ties with all the teams. My brother was active in martial arts. Many of our earliest customers were friends or teammates. We treated clients like friends — not customers — and that community helped us grow.

Around 1987, I heard traders talking about Turkey. I had no idea what currency they used, what the markets were like, nothing. I took 5,000 USD, got on a plane and found myself sitting next to someone who explained everything on the spot. I hadn’t even booked a hotel. But it worked, and I kept traveling there for years.

In the early 90s, a friend convinced me to join his father on a trip to China. That was a major turning point. We had no bank facilities, no credit — everything was cash. I brought in one container, sold it before even checking the goods, flew back to buy two more and repeated the cycle. It changed our scale.

The first Mike Sport shop

When did you open your first stores outside the village?

Our first expansion was a small shop inside the newly rebuilt Zaarour ski resort in the early 90s. It wasn’t even a proper shop, more like a bungalow. However, it was a successful.

In 1995, we opened in Jal Dib. It was tiny — 16 square meters, up a small staircase — but it became a go-to spot. Claude managed that store and built deep relationships with customers.

By 2004, we were doing a lot of wholesale, but collecting payments through checks was becoming impossible. Instead of chasing money, we said: let’s create a massive showroom and sell directly to everyone at wholesale prices.

So, we started building the flagship store in Zalka in January 2004 and opened on September 17, just eight and a half months later. It was a huge turning point.

Who is “Mike” in Mike Sport?

Mike is my father, Michel. We named the shop after him. Also, “Mike” has a sporty, global feel. Later, during the social media era, we ran a campaign asking people to name famous athletes called Mike — Tyson, Jordan, Phelps, Schumacher… the legends helped us without knowing it.

What sports do you most enjoy?

I used to watch a lot of football and play basketball with my kids until they became better than me! But today, hiking is my passion. It’s not just sport; it’s therapy. Lebanon is full of stunning trails, valleys and mountains. I hike every chance I get.

During the pandemic, I was in Bteghrine, and I spent two or three months hiking two or three times a day. Despite the global tragedy, those were among the best moments of my life.

Bteghrine

What is your secret to success?

Love what you do. Fight for it. Keep dreaming and work relentlessly to make them real.

But most importantly: build a strong team. You can’t do anything alone. We have around 400 employees just in Mike Sport. We also have other businesses: real estate projects, franchises and suppliers who work closely with us. Ultimately, your team needs to understand your vision, share your passion and feel like family. You need to treat them like family.

You’ve expanded outside Lebanon. What’s the current footprint?

We have Mike Sport stores in Cyprus, Iraq and Armenia. We also operate Adidas franchises in Romania, Cyprus and Iraq.

What’s next for the group?

We’re focusing on our private label, Oil&Gaz, which I personally love for its quality and price. Our online business is growing rapidly. And we’re restructuring after six difficult years. Once that’s completed, we plan to expand into Africa and possibly Saudi Arabia.

If you could speak to your 18-year-old self, what would you say?

I always say this: I regret not having six kids! I only have two, and I love big families. The bond I have with my siblings shaped my life. I encourage my sons to have at least four children one day.

The 40th anniversary celebration of Mike Sport. From left to right: Michel (Samir’s son), Kamal (Samir’s cousin), Claude, Samir, Kevin (Samir’s son)

What does Lebanon mean to you?

Lebanon gave us everything. Mike Sport is a Lebanese creation, built here, by people here. Now it’s our turn to give back. We succeeded in building a business, one that has survived 40 years of ups and downs, but as a generation, we failed to build a country. Many of our children are abroad. Many families are split across continents.

The happiest moments of my life now are with my grandchildren. I don’t want any Lebanese to lose that joy. Wherever you are in the world, you are just a number. In Lebanon, you are a human being. That’s why I want my children — and their children — to stay here.

If you enjoyed reading this, check out our interview with Lebanese ski champion Manon Ouaiss.