The House of Sport spans 13,000 square feet over two floors and features batting cages, an indoor golf simulator, an outdoor grass court and a bike repair shop.
The remodeling of Oakdale Commons in Johnson City is underway.
Dick’s House of Sport officially opened earlier this month as the lead tenant in the $100 million project that aims to revitalize the space formerly known as the Oakdale Mall. Spread over two floors and over 13,000 square feet, House of Sport is the largest Dick’s store in the world. In addition to shoes and other sporting goods, the property has batting cages, an indoor golf simulator, an outdoor grass court, and a bike repair shop. Visitors can expect a Chipotle and Panera Bread by the end of 2023, as well as BJ’s Wholesale Club and Dave and Buster’s by the end of summer 2024.
Johnson City Mayor Martin Meaney expressed optimism about the future of Oakdale Commons, describing it as a destination for both residents and visitors.
“It’s great,” Meaney said. “Not just for Johnson City, but for the entire region. This will be a regional draw. This was a dying mall and the folks at Spark JC really found a brilliant way to rebrand and revitalize the mall.”
Spark JC partner Douglas Matthews described the new Oakdale Commons as more than a traditional shopping center and stressed the importance of wellness.
“We wanted to bring this mall back in a way that really enriches people’s lives,” Matthews said. “It started with the Lourdes Hospital and the Wellness Center. House of Sport also contributes to the well-being and health of families by keeping people active and offering a unique interactive approach that differs greatly from the traditional mall model.”
Broome County General Manager Jason Garnar worked with Spark JC throughout the construction process. He said that while malls have fallen out of favor in the age of online retail, the renaming of Oakdale Commons could serve as a blueprint for other malls in the country.
“In 2017, the closure of Oakdale Mall was all but predictable,” Garnar said. “Now if you look at the mall, you can see that it actually rose from the dead. It’s going to be pretty busy by next year and it’s going to be a really good example of how to fix troubled malls across America.”
The first Dick’s Sporting Goods store opened in Binghamton in 1948 as a bait and tackle shop. Garnar described the connection between the company and the local community as “special”.
Nora Monasheri, a first-year student majoring in business administration, said the Oakdale Commons update will help connect students and their communities.
“It creates more conversation and excitement in the community,” said Monasheri. “It can be a destination for people of all ages and potentially encourage more positive connections between community members and students. There is another activity for [Binghamton University] Students to get involved with.”
Oakdale Commons is located approximately 10 minutes from campus and is accessible via the Off Campus College Transport (OCCT) and Broome County bus routes. Daniel Shulman, a senior specializing in integrative neuroscience, has already visited the new location and enjoys the diversity it offers.
“There’s really a lot to do,” Shulman said. “You can do your usual shopping for sneakers and such, but there is also an outdoor basketball court and indoor batting cages. It’s nice to have something different to do in Binghamton.”
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