The Dick’s Sporting Goods store is an anomaly of sorts.

On one hand, it will be a welcome sight to the eyesore that has become the old K-Mart lot, and will bring new business to Carbondale. On the other hand, the sporting goods giant has the potential to steal local sporting goods stores’ clientele.

Shops such as The Great Outdoors Company, Hibbett Sporting Goods, Shawnee Trails Wilderness Outfitters and Phoenix Cycles are preparing for a possibly negative economic impact with the arrival of Dick’s, which is slated to open sometime this fall.

Mickey Stewart, owner of The Great Outdoors Company, said while Dick’s could hurt his business, he has already put plans into action to minimize the impact.

“We are going to do the things that they don’t do as well,” Stewart said. “We won’t be able to carry the Under Armour to the depth that they do, so we’ll just do the specialty stuff and try to do it real well.”

The fact Dick’s could potentially detract the casual customer away from The Great Outdoors Company was a source of concern for Stewart, however.

Mike Helmers, a senior from Plano studying management confirmed Stewart’s suspicion.

“If I was looking for a bike or something like that then I would probably go to a specialty shop or a bike shop around here,” said Helmers, who enjoys biking and camping. “Now if I was going to just browse around then I would go to Dick’s because they have a lot more of a selection.”

Therein lies the problem.

“Whether people realize it or not, we get over the hump by the casual customer who steps in here once a year to buy a Christmas gift,” Stewart said. “If they all go to Dick’s, then that’s really going to hurt.”

Sporting good stores around Carbondale will have to depend on customer loyalty and hope that relations carry over when Dick’s comes around.

Andy Staff, an employee of Shawnee Trails Wilderness Outfitters, said while his employer isn’t planning anything too significant in preparation for Dick’s opening, he thinks his customers’ loyalty will keep them in check.

“We have ads ready for the fall that will promote how we are a locally owned business,” Staff said. “We’ve been here for a while so over that amount of time we would hope that we built up that kind of relationship with our customers that they stay with us.”

Kevin Baity, assistant city manager for economic development, said the store at 1250 E. Main St. would cover all the bases in the sporting goods scene.

“Dick’s is a nationally recognized company,” Baity said. “Their inventory or line of goods is something that will add well with what we do not have or only have small amounts of here in Carbondale. They are going to be a retailer that fits a market area that we did not have full coverage in.”

While Carbondale sporting good shops have operated in the past in a particular niche such as bicycles or hunting gear, Dick’s will include it all.

Ben Westra, project manager for WDS Construction, Inc., said the store would come fully equipped with complete golf, fitness, footwear, and gun and archery sections, along with room for sports such as baseball, basketball and football.

It will also feature an archery test range and a state-of-the-art golf section, where shoppers will be able to get custom-fitted golf clubs.

Representatives from Dick’s did not return multiple phone calls for comment and a specific opening date for the fall has not been announced.

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Brian Feldt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 258 or [email protected].