Cunningham helps Dick’s celebrate opening of Strip store

Las Vegas resident Allen Guelas was near the Las Vegas Strip when he heard a radio announcement about the new Dick's Sporting Goods store at Fashion Show Mall.

"I was down the street so I decided to come check it out," he said with his wife and two children in tow. "I've been wondering what they were going to open here and I'm glad to see it became a Dick's."

The two-story, 82,000-square-foot location is the company's 642nd store and second in Southern Nevada, according to Community Marketing Manager Brent Vanantwerp.

"We're super excited to be part of the community," he said. "It's a huge opportunity for us to take it to another level and show more people who we are as a brand."

Guelas lives on the southwest side of valley and said Dick's, which has a store at the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson, is a welcome addition.

"There's nothing out there so it's nice to have this here," he said. "It's always great to have stores closer to the west side of town."

According to Vanantwerp, in addition to sports equipment and apparel, which are priced similarly at each location, the store features a "footwear deck" complete with a branded Jordan section, Michael Jordan inspired sneakers by Nike, which are in only two other Dick's stores.

Janet LaFevre, the mall's senior marketing manager, said the shopping mall, which is 98.5 percent leased, is thrilled to welcome Dick's as its eighth department store.

"This marks Dick's first location on the Las Vegas Strip and one that will undoubtedly serve as a strong addition," she said. "A lot of thought and consideration goes into leasing efforts to ensure we continually meet the evolving needs of our locals and visitors who come to the center to shop, dine and be entertained."

Kelli Pash of Las Vegas decided to stop by the store with her family.

"We're into all kinds of sports especially golf," she said. "I'm on the north side of town and there isn't much there in terms of sports stores so it's nice to see it here."

More than 100 people were hired for full- and part-time positions, including associates and management positions, at the new store, Vanantwerp said.

Dick's is hosting a three-day grand opening celebration, which began Friday and will run until Sunday.

Former University of Nevada, Las Vegas and NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham signed autographs on Saturday afternoon.

The grand opening celebration will continue on Sunday with Stacey Augmon, UNLV men's basketball associate head coach who played for several NBA teams. He will sign autographs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Contact Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Find her on Twitter: @AnnFriedmanRJ.