The fascinating part? While many retail analysts warn about the risks of expanding physical footprints, Dick’s is proving that size, when combined with experience, still matters in retail.

As a Retail property owner, the lesson is clear: the “retail apocalypse” narrative misses the mark. What we’re witnessing isn’t the death of retail but its evolution into something far more engaging!

The Experience Revolution in Action

What makes the House of Sport concept work when other big boxes struggle? Simply put, they’ve transformed shopping into an experience that can’t be replicated online.

In Johnson City, NY, Dick’s took over a defunct Macy’s, raised the ceiling for more light, and created a stadium-like atmosphere where shoppers can test equipment before buying. Families drive an hour to spend the afternoon there, practicing baseball swings and trying on cleats, and spending significantly more than at traditional locations.

This perfectly illustrates what I’ve been telling our clients for a while now: retail spaces must become destinations, not just transaction points. The retailers who understand this, and the property owners who accommodate them, will thrive while others struggle.