Dick’s, Field & Stream to open at Polaris Fashion Place

Ratcheting up the competition in the outdoors retail sector, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream will open stores in the fall at Polaris Fashion Place, joining a similar combo at Easton Gateway.

The Polaris stores will be side by side and will occupy the 136,000-square-foot anchor location previously held by Great Indoors — within sight of outdoors megastore Cabela’s.

"This announcement showcases our continued efforts to offer the best shopping experience to our customers," Michael Minns, general manager of Polaris Fashion Place, said.

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Dick’s is the parent of the Field & Stream stores. The new Dick’s and Field & Stream location will feature athletic and outdoor apparel and footwear, as well as gear for fitness, camping, hunting and fishing.

Columbus will be the first city to have two of the Dick’s/Field & Stream locations. Field & Stream, which has been described as Dick’s answer to Cabela’s and Gander Mountain, also opened a location last year at Easton Gateway.

"I think Dick’s and Cabela’s are engaged in a game of chicken," said Chris Boring, principal at retail consultancy Boulevard Strategies. "It’s being played out here more than in some other markets, but that’s probably because Columbus is somewhat unique in that we have two dominant (regional malls in Easton and Polaris.)"

The question is whether central Ohio can support so many outdoors stores, he said.

"We’re seeing a repeat of what we saw back in the ’90s, when every category of retail became saturated," Boring said. "There was only room for one or two major players, but everyone kept coming anyway. They were all engaged in a game of chicken.

"That doesn’t mean Field & Stream and Dick’s won’t succeed, but they might push others out."

One store that could be affected by the announcement is the current Dick’s Sporting Goods on Polaris Parkway. Dick’s officials have not said what will become of that store, but the Dick’s at Easton Market was closed when the new location at Easton Gateway opened last year.

Dick’s opened the first two Field & Streams in 2013: one in Pennsylvania, 20 miles north of the retailer’s Pittsburgh headquarters, the other in northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. Since then, Dick’s has opened Field & Stream stores in North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan and New York.

There are currently 11 Field & Stream stores.

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