Before Dunham’s Sports comes to Emporia later this year, it plans a major facelift to its new home at Flinthills Mall.
Building permits as announced by the city of Emporia show a “tenant finish” permit for work estimated at just under $500,000.
Dunham’s Sports is coming to Emporia as part of an ongoing expansion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and over the past several years as a whole. The company hasn’t given a specific timeline, but mall manager Clarence Frye says the business could open by mid-summer.
The chain offers sports accessories, apparel, footwear, team merchandise and other items. Frye says Dunham’s will carry more equipment for hunting, fishing, traditional and disc golf, kayaking, canoeing and other outdoors activities than Hibbett Sports, a longtime tenant of the mall. Hibbett Sports locally has focused on ball sports equipment and sports apparel.
JC Penney closed its doors in October 2020 after around 35 years in Emporia after years of financial losses and the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Separately, the space previously occupied by Coach’s Grill and Bar will be paved soon for parking, at least for now. The building was destroyed by a fire in August and was torn down in October. The cause and origination point were undetermined after an Emporia Fire investigation.
