Popular sporting goods brand plans new interactive store & outdoor field at Durham mall
A popular big-box retailer has plans to transform an empty anchor space at a popular Durham shopping center into an experiential store.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is expected to bring its House of Sport brand to The Streets at Southpoint, moving into the former Sears space at 6930 Fayetteville Road. Sears announced it would close its two Durham locations — at Southpoint and Northgate Mall — in 2018, The News & Observer previously reported.
The Durham House of Sport is expected to be North Carolina’s second, joining the location at Freedom Town Center in Fayetteville, which opened in 2023.
Turf field, climbing wall & golf bays at new Dick’s
House of Sport, which launched in 2021, features a retail component with an assortment of sporting goods products along with “in-store experiences including a climbing wall, multiple golf bays with TrackMan simulators, and multi-sport cages” for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer.
The Streets at Southpoint location is also expected to have a fenced, outdoor turf multi-use field built on the existing parking lot, construction documents submitted to the City of Durham and acquired by The N&O show. The dimensions of the field are about 85 feet by 124 feet, according to the documents.
While not all House of Sport stores have fields, they may be used for open play, clinics, league space or as an ice rink in the winter, according to a Dick’s press release from May 2023.
Transformco Properties, which owns the old Sears property, has leased the 106,619-square-foot building to Dick’s Sporting Goods, its website shows.
Dick’s Sporting Goods did not immediately respond to The N&O’s request on Tuesday, Dec. 10 for more information about the store, including a projected opening date.
Triangle Business Journal was first to report on the new Streets at Southpoint store.
There are House of Sport stores in 14 states, the company’s website indicates. In a March 2023 earnings call, Dick’s Sporting Goods President and CEO Lauren Hobart said the company could have as many as 75-100 House of Sport locations across the United States over the next five years.
Changes at Streets at Southpoint
The renovation of the anchor space is just one recent change at the Durham mall.
Over the summer, Southpoint launched an alcohol-friendly social district, The N&O previously reported. The program allows visitors to take beer, wine and cocktails from California Pizza Kitchen, Firebirds, CO and Uncle Julio’s to go, and drink them in designated areas outside and inside the mall.
Two new clothing stores — Garage and Abercrombie & Fitch — opened earlier this year at the mall. Children’s apparel retailer Janie and Jack has not yet opened there.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Popular sporting goods brand plans new interactive store & outdoor field at Durham mall."
