LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Days after announcing Sears would be leaving the Viewmont Mall in Lackawanna County, the mall has its replacement lined up.
In a few months, two sporting goods stores will take Sears' place.
Mall officials say that the two stores that will fill the empty Sears anchor spot will be Dick's Sporting Goods, which already has a location nearby, and Field and Stream, an outdoor store.
The dust had barely settled for Dave Gardy of Sugarloaf Township. The craftsman from Luzerne County learned this week that he's losing his favorite store to buy tools.
He said, “I really am, I don’t know, there’s probably one in Wilkes-Barre I think, maybe that’s the last one around.”
When Sears closes in Jul, it won't stay empty for long. The mall's anchor spot will host a combination.
Dick's Sporting Goods and outdoor store Field and Stream will share the 90,000 square foot space.
Sears is set to close this summer and Viewmont Mall officials say construction should start shortly after that although there’s no opening day set for the new store.
Ray Pawelski of Eynon said, “It’s kind of tough losing a store like Sears because of the quality goods they had and stuff but evidently they just couldn’t make it here.”
The addition of the sports stores is part of a trend, malls moving away from traditional department stores.
Spend a Sunday at the existing Dick's Sporting Goods location less than a mile away in Dickson City, you'll see there's a demand.
Pawelski added, “There’s an awful lot of sportsmen in this area, it’s well known for hunting and fishing.”
“There’s a lot of hunters, a lot of fishermen, a lot of outdoorsmen,” added James Hughes of Dunmore.
Appropriately named siblings Gunnar and Hunter Hayes of Hawley aren't sportsmen, but they like sports. The new addition is more likely to get them into a mall with mom and dad.
Gunnar Myers says he was at the mall Sunday for a softball glove for his sister. Hunter Myers added, “I like looking in there to see the new stuff.”
Dick's Sporting Goods will vacate its location along Commerce Drive and its customers looking forward to its expanded future.
“I think this area is a big hunting and fishing area. So, if you build it they will come,” said Joseph Minzak of Tunkhannock.
There's no word if there are any plans for the space Dick's Sporting Goods will leave to come here.
Mall officials say they have a big construction project planned. There is also no word on when the combo of Dick’s and Field & Stream will open.
