DICK's House Of Sport Bringing New Shopping Experience To Joliet's Thriving Development: Patch Exclusive

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet City Council will review plans at next week's Monday and Tuesday night meetings for a new DICK's House of Sport that will be built at the Rock Run Collection mixed-use development along Interstate 55 at Interstate 80.

The DICK's House of Sport retail store would be the latest addition to the growing Joliet development. Last August marked the grand opening for the new Hollywood Casino Joliet. In recent weeks, Rock Run Collection opened its new apartment buildings called The View. A Ricky Rocketts gas station and convenience store is now being built, and ground was broken in April for a new seven-story Drury Plaza Hotel that will go directly in front of the Hollywood Casino.

On the opposite side of the road, on Gateway Boulevard, is a new Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant. A new Culver's restaurant and a Chick-fil-A are expected to be built and opened later this year near the Chipotle.

Tuesday night's meeting agenda calls for a "Resolution Amending and Authorizing the Execution of an Amended and Restated Development Agreement with Cullinan Joliet, LLC for the Rock Run Crossing Development Project Area."

A memo from Joliet Finance Director Kevin Sing explains that "In 2022, the City approved a development agreement to transform acreage at the intersection of Interstates 55 and 80 in Joliet into a premier mixed-use destination ... The City issued $100 M in GO bonds to finance public improvements. Since 2022, the developer completed the interchange, some site infrastructure, the casino, industrial uses, and a Chipotle. Construction is ongoing on a 264-unit apartment project.

"In 2026, the City has the opportunity to update the agreement in order to strengthen its position and capture the full potential of the Rock Run development in Joliet. The amendment reflects an opportunity to secure a major destination anchor tenant and accelerate the overall project timeline. It is structured to better protect the City by tying incentives to actual performance, shifting more risk to the developer, and incorporating independent financial analysis to guide decision-making. These updates are designed to enhance long-term economic impact, increase regional draw, and ensure the project delivers sustained benefits for the community. The amended agreement is expected to accelerate development of the site, generating $237 million in total revenue for the City of Joliet."

According to a marketing brochure, Dick's House of Sport is a 100,000-plus square foot store "that provides athletes with an incredible assortment of products along with in-store experiences including a climbing wall, multiple golf bays with TrackMan simulators and multi-sport cages that can be used for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer and give athletes an opportunity to try product while measuring their performance.

"House of Sport stores also focus on deep integration with the local community through partnerships and events. Some locations have a field attached to the store that can be used for open play, clinics, league space or an ice rink in the winter."

The first nine Dick's House of Sport stores to open back in 2023 were in Katy, Texas, Baybrook, Texas, here in Illinois in Champaign at the Market Place Shopping Center. Other locations around the U.S. were Fayetteville, North Carolina, Latham, New York, Scranton, Pennsylvania and Johnson City New York. The 2024 plans for the Dick's company called for House of Sport retail stores in Boston, Pittsburgh and in Salem New Hampshire.