We've been watching for months as Dick's Sporting Goods finished its newest store in Fort Smith.  This weekend is their grand opening, which is filled with celebrity appearances, prizes, and fishing demonstrations.

 

Below is the press release detailing this weekend's events:

Dick's Sporting Goods Announces Grand Opening Celebration at Fort Smith Pavilion in Fort Smith, AR

Bass Professionals  Zell Rowland, Billy Murray and Jimmy Houston, Green Bay Packer Brett Goode and former NFL running back Priest Holmes to Make Special Appearances

 

Pittsburgh, PA, October 24, 2011 - Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), the largest U.S. based full-line sporting goods retailer, invites the community of Fort Smith to their three-day grand opening weekend. The store will open its doors on Wednesday, October 26 and begin the celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, October 28 at 8 AM at the retailer’s new location at Fort Smith Pavilion, 3825 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72903 (479-646-8900).  Special extended store hours will also be in effect for Friday (8 AM – 10 PM), Saturday (8 AM – 10 PM) and Sunday (9 AM – 8 PM).

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods has a variety of special athlete appearances and give-a-ways scheduled to celebrate the grand opening festivities. During the weekend’s activities, outdoor enthusiasts can learn bass fishing tips and techniques all weekend long from bass professional Chuck Devereaux on top of DICK’s 4,000 gallon bass tank from 11 AM – 6 PM Friday, Saturday and 11AM – 4PM Sunday, along with visiting the Ultimate Shootout archery trailer all weekend from 10AM – 7PM. 

 

On Friday, the first customers through the door will receive a free adidas t-shirt while supplies last and bass professional Zell Rowland will be onsite from 4 – 6PM*. Known as the topwater king, Rowland has earned five BASS Tour titles.

 

Saturday, for the first 100 customers through the door, Crocs will be giving away a free pair of adult Crocs (limit one per person and must be 18 years or older) and customers can meet bass professionals Jimmy Houston from 10AM – 1PM*, Zell Rowland from 11AM – 2PM* and Billy Murray from 12pm-3pm*.  Green Bay Packers Brett Goode will be onsite from noon – 2PM*. Houston was inducted in the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002, while Murray was elected in 1986. A native of Fort Smith, Goode was a four-year letterwinner for the University of Arkansas.

 

Sunday’s schedule will feature a Mystery Gift Card Giveaway for the first 100 customers, where unmarked gift cards will be handed out with varying denominations from $5 to one lucky $500 gift card (limit one per person, per household and must be 18 years or older). Plus a free Reebok t-shirt while supplies last and special appearance by former NFL running back Priest Holmes from noon – 2PM*. Also a native of Fort Smith, Holmes was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2001.

 

“Dick’s Sporting Goods is excited to become a member of the Fort Smith community with the opening of our newest location,” said Lauren Hobart, Dick’s Sporting Goods Chief Marketing Officer. “Unsurpassed customer service and the best products in the industry are the hallmarks of our stores and we’re excited to bring these traditions to Fort Smith. We look forward to becoming an integrated member of the Fort Smith community.”  

 

The Fort Smith location will be the retailer’s third store in the state of Arkansas and their 473^rd nationwide.

 

Throughout the weekend, customers can sign up for the $1,000 ScoreCard®  Shopping Spree, earn triple points all weekend by signing up for the ScoreCard® Rewards Program, and register to win great prizes from The North Face, Crosman, SofSole, or Michael Mauro. Additionally, there will be activities throughout the store including product demonstrations by industry experts from Crocs, SofSole, and Berkley among others.

 

We work hard.  Take yesterday for example.  Marcus and I drove to Fayetteville for a story about a family filled with artists.  While I won’t give away the focus of our November story, I will give you a taste of what it’s like to meet these extraordinary people.

After our initial introduction, I asked Ben (the father in this family) where he grew up.  He said, “Well, the first eight years I spent in a cult, no,” he said, backtracking a little, “it was more like a commune.”  For a writer that sentence alone is like finding gold. 

We were so buzzed when we left that we ended up at Bliss Cupcakes on Center Street, two cupcakes in hand.  We sat outside in the October sun and talked about meditation, self discipline, and how the economy is challenging artists.  And yes, we got the irony that we were eating cupcakes while talking about discipline. On the way home we spotted the first turning trees of autumn, the red and gold spiking in the sea of green.  We’re planning a trip back in a few weeks when the trees are in their full fall glory.  How will be know when that will be?  We use this handy dandy little tracker.

Hope your own day was equally delicious!

Marla

 

The new iPhone 4s was announced yesterday. Dual-core A5 chip (I don't know what that means but I think I will like it), all-new 8MP camera and optics and a new app called Siri (I've had it on my current phone and it is fabulous).

They say, "It's the most amazing iPhone yet". So we want to know- are you gonna get one? Pre-orders begin this Friday, October 7th.

 

Image by Apple