Dick's "House of Sport" in Johnson City Prepares for Soft Opening

Construction work on the massive "House of Sport" Oakdale Commons store in Johnson City is nearing completion as the hiring continues ahead of this summer's planned opening.

Dick's Sporting Goods - which was founded in Binghamton - is building a 140,000-square-foot retail complex off Harry L Drive. The store will be the largest of the company's "House of Sport" units to date.

An enclosed area is being built outside the soon-to-open House of Sport in Johnson City. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Marc Newman - an Oakdale Commons partner - said construction is on track to turn over the future retail space to Dick's Sporting Goods at the end of June.

Dick's Sporting Goods has not publicly confirmed the target date for opening the new store. But House of Sport executive director Steven Franklin has told local officials the plan is for a "soft opening" on August 9 with the official grand opening set for August 19.

The interior entrance to the future Dick's House of Sport at the Oakdale Commons. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The company is planning to bring some prominent athletes to Johnson City to celebrate the opening.

About 200 people are expected to be hired for the new store. The House of Sport shoe department alone reportedly will have 50 employees and feature a wide variety of shoe styles.

Personal attendants will be available to provide assistance to shoppers.

A sign posted in the Oakdale Commons on May 30, 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The store will have a 35-foot climbing wall, batting cages and a 17,000-square-foot turf field that will be used as an ice rink during cold weather.

After the Johnson City House of Sport unit opens, the Dick's Sporting Good store in Vestal's Town Square Mall is expected to close. The company's small, more traditional store on Court Street in Binghamton is to remain in operation. That store is near the original East Side site where 18-year-old Richard Stack launched the company as a fishing tackle business.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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