Although Dick’s Sporting Goods opened its doors in Bluffton, it’s saving the bells and whistles for a grand opening over the weekend.
The 40,000-square-foot store, located at 1050 Fording Island Rd., will feature appearances from athletes and promotions.
After a morning ribbon cutting, Friday will feature professional long driver and golfer Tom Garber, who will sign autographs from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday includes former Clemson University standout Steve Fuller from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fuller, the backup quarterback for the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, is one of three players in Clemson with a retired jersey number. His professional career spanned 1979 to 1986.
Sunday also includes a gift card giveaway for the first 100 adults in line. The cards, left unmarked, will range from $5 to $500.
The store will be collecting “Cheer Cards” from area high schools vying for a chance at a $750 gift card on Saturday. The school with the greatest number of returned cards between noon and 4 p.m. will win.
Outside the store customers will find a 4,000-gallon bass tank manned by professional angler Chuck Devereaux, who’s imparting techniques all weekend from late morning through the afternoon.
The new Bluffton store makes the 11th in the state and 492nd nationwide, said Christina Burwell, a community marketing manager for the chain. She said the company chose Bluffton for the market opportunities.
“We chose the Bluffton location seeing as that it’s a great market in which we can serve the sporting goods and equipment needs of the local athletes in the local community,” she said.
The store will feature special sections hawking Nike, Adidas and Under Armour apparel as well as a complete golf pro shop staffed with a PGA professional. The store will also sell the latest gear in team sports, fitness, camping, hunting and fishing, with services that include custom golf club fittings and hunting/fishing licenses.
Between management and sales associates, single-story locations employ upwards of 60 people, though staffing levels shift with the season, Burwell said.