Dick’s Sporting Goods opens
POCATELLO — Matt Carey, of Pocatello, was part of the first group of customers to enter the new Dick’s Sporting Goods store during their VIP Grand Opening event on Thursday evening.
“I like the store,” Carey said. “They’ve got a little bit of everything you could think of on a sport level. Everything from hunting to lacrosse. I do wish they had a little more variety of name brand though.” he added.
Due to company policy, management could not divulge the number of customers they had seen come through the doors on Thursday however, every register had a line of customers waiting to be helped.
“This store will be a great addition to the stores already in Idaho,” Kate Buckner, Community Marketing Manager for Dick’s said. “We are very excited to be a part of this community, and the community response to our coming here has been almost overwhelming.”
Buckner added that the sporting goods chain expects to be here a long time.
The new store employs upward of 50 full-time and part-time employees, including management, most of which came from the local area. Gary Black is part of the new store’s management team after leaving his previous position as manager of the Chubbuck Walmart. Devin Papetti, 23, is a sales associate that has been with Dick’s Sporting Goods for 3 weeks. Papetti has lived in Pocatello his whole life.
“It has been wonderful to see the communities reaction to our arrival,” Buckner said. “We’ve had the Pocatello Chamber, the Mayor, and several other key people of the City come in. It’s just great to see a community back its businesses like this.”
The grand opening will take place June 10-12 with key appearances by three professional athletes slated for the weekend.
Saturday professional football player Reno Mahe will make an appearance from noon to 2 p.m., and former pro-football player and ESPN analyst, Merril Hoge will appear from 2 to 4 p.m. Then on Sunday pro-football player, Curtis Marsh will make an appearance from noon to 2 p.m.
Also through the weekend the store will be giving away items if you shop during the grand opening.
Today shoppers will receive a free Adidas T-shirt while supplies last. Saturday, the first 100 customers will receive a free pair of Crocs footwear, and on Sunday, the first 100 customers in line will receive a Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card that could be worth $500, and a free Reebok T-shirt while supplies last.