The long-vacant Sears building at Orland Square Mall may soon be transformed into a massive, experience-driven Dick’s House of Sport — if the village agrees to help fund the $50 million redevelopment.
Dick’s Sporting Goods presented the plan Monday night to new Mayor Jim Dodge and the Orland Park Village Board, proposing a 200,000-square-foot flagship store designed to combine retail with community-focused recreation.
The House of Sport concept includes indoor and outdoor turf fields, HitTrax batting cages, climbing walls, golf simulators, and seasonal ice rinks. Other offerings may include athlete appearances, birthday parties, “parents night out” events, fitness classes, and brand activations.
“This is more than a store,” said Vince Corno, senior vice president of real estate for Dick’s. “It’s a destination.”
Preliminary interest in the site was first announced late last year by then-Mayor Keith Pekau, who called it “fantastic news for Orland Park.” Pekau lost his re-election bid in April, shifting final decision-making to Dodge and the newly seated board.
Corno said the current Dick’s store at Orland Park Place, measuring 80,000 square feet, lacks the space and layout for the expanded concept. If the new location moves forward, the existing site would be vacated—freeing up another prime retail space along La Grange Road.
The proposed store would anchor the south wing of the mall, replacing a Sears site that’s been empty for six years. Dick’s is in negotiations to purchase the property from CubeWorks, along with 16 surrounding acres.
According to Corno, the project is not viable without financial support. Officials said options on the table include local tax incentives or a possible Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district to help offset redevelopment costs.
“This is a $50 million capital investment,” Corno said. “We’ve seen success in places like Johnson City, New York, where House of Sport became a true community hub.”
Dick’s has opened 22 House of Sport locations nationwide with plans for 75 by 2027. If the Orland Park deal is approved, construction could begin as soon as designs are finalized, with a potential opening in 2026.
