NEWS

Destin to see new sporting goods store, expansion at Destin Commons

SAVANNAH VASQUEZ 315-4412 | @destinlogsav Svasquez@thedestinlog.com
A Dick's Sporting Goods is proposed to go in to the 50,018 square-foot retail space in the Emerald Coast Centre located at 15001 Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin.

A new retailer is coming soon to the Emerald Coast Centre in Destin. Pennsylvania-based athletic company, Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc., has plans under review at the city for a proposed 50,018 square-foot retail space near Bealls Outlet. The plans call for partial reconstruction to the existing shopping center located at 15001 Emerald Coast Parkway.

“Dick’s Sporting Goods is the name we have on our record,” City Public Information Manager Doug Rainer told The Log.

According to its website, Dick's is an, “authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel and footwear in a specialty store environment.”

Currently, there is no timeline for the project. A call was made to Dick’s but was not returned by press time.

The closest stores to Destin are located in Panama City at Pier Park and 5100 N 9th Avenue in Pensacola.

Another development project currently under review is a proposed expansion to Destin’s Bass Pro Shops building. The plan calls for a 20,082 square-foot addition to the existing building.

“What they are trying to do is enclose the existing canopy were all the boats are and they are also doing some interior renovations on the mezzanine,” said Okaloosa County Planning Employee Marissa Martinez. “It’s not really an addition, like another building, it’s just enclosing the existing building.”

Okaloosa County Construction Plans Examiner Lawrence Pernell further elaborated that this project will add shopping space to the interior and exterior without expanding the physical building.

“With that second floor mezzanine, they are going to extend that inside so that you can walk around the building in a square,” he said. “They’re wanting to enclose the current canopied area then extend a new canopy on out so it will be open like it is right now.”

Pernell said that the plans have been submitted at the county for some time now, but as of yet no work has begun and no timeline has been announced.