Dick's Sporting Goods Construction Begins At Chicago Ridge Mall

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — Construction on a new Dick’s Sporting Goods store has begun in the former Carson space at Chicago Ridge Mall. The sporting goods big box store will be located in the lower level on the south end of the mall, with an anticipated opening of 2021.

Plans call for Dick’s to take over part of the former Carson's tore, which closed in 2018. The 50,000-square-foot store that will carry an extensive assortment of authentic, high-quality sports equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories. Adding Dick’s is expected to expand the mall’s retail mix. The sporting goods store is also expected to remedy the downward trends brought on by the pandemic when malls across the state were forced to close for three months.

“There has been a lot of speculation surrounding this announcement, so we are thrilled to finally be able to share the news,” Steven Yee said in a news release, general manager at Chicago Ridge Mall. “With many student athletes in the area and a variety of active youth sports clubs and organizations, we think that Dick’s Sporting Goods makes perfect sense as an addition to the property.”

>>> Dick's Sporting Goods Eyes Former Carson's At Chicago Ridge Mall

Last summer, Chicago Ridge village trustees approved an ordinance that would allow the village to form a business district according to an agreement the village has with Starwood Retail Partners to redevelop the mall. The agreement allows the village to charge a .5 percent sales tax on all purchases made at the mall to go toward its redevelopment, but does not apply to Chicago Ridge Commons.

The Pittsburgh-based big box sporting goods retailer operates about 800 stores across the country. Dick's claims to be a leading omnichannel retailer in sporting goods, combining brick and mortar with online purchasing.

Starwood Retail Partners, based in Chicago, is the fifth largest regional mall manager in the United States. A division of Starwood Capital Group, the retail partners specialize in reinventing malls by transforming them into lifestyle centers, adding new uses and amenities including shopping, entertainment and dining. The firm currently manages 27 malls and lifestyle centers throughout the United States.

>>> 17 Chain Stores In Illinois We Said Goodbye To In 2020

Current anchor tenants at Chicago Ridge Mall are Kohl's, Sears, Aldi, Bed Bath and Beyond and AMC Chicago Ridge 6, along with such other key tenants as H&M, Old Navy, Victoria's Secret, PINK, Akira, Forever 21, Buffalo Wild Wings, Miller's Ale House Restaurant and Red Robin.

Retail has faced immense challenges in 2020. Bed, Bath And Beyond announced last May that it was closing 63 stores because the stores "no longer meet the standards our customers expect from us."

Victoria’s Secret plans to closed 250 stores and three of its PINK stores in 2021, but has not yet released its cut list. Sears has been on the ropes for years, with the Chicago Ridge Mall anchor one of 67 Sears stores remaining in the country.

The world’s largest movie theater chain AMC Theatres still plans to remain operational and plans to continue despite the industry’s lagging recovery.