Conceptual illustration of the proposed Dick's House of Sport at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Not an official rendering. Final design and amenities have not been confirmed.
The former Sears building at Orland Square Mall could soon become something very different. Dick's Sporting Goods is planning a House of Sport location featuring interactive sports experiences alongside traditional retail shopping. Climbing walls, batting cages, golf simulators and even an outdoor athletic field are among the possibilities. Here's what's planned, when it could open and what the redevelopment means for Orland Park.
Updated November 3, 2026.
Remember the old Sears at Orland Square Mall?
It's been sitting vacant since 2018, but there's finally a substantial redevelopment plan moving forward. And this one could bring something we haven't seen before in Orland Park.
Dick's Sporting Goods is planning to transform the former Sears property at 2 Orland Square Drive into a Dick's House of Sport.
This isn't your typical sporting goods store where you walk in, grab a pair of shoes or a baseball glove, and head to the register.
House of Sport is designed around the idea that customers can actually participate in sports and recreational activities while visiting the store.
What's Planned for Dick's House of Sport?
According to the Village of Orland Park's redevelopment documents, the proposed location could include several interactive features:
- Indoor climbing wall for recreational climbing experiences.
- Baseball and softball batting cages for hitting practice.
- Golf simulators for indoor golf experiences.
- Indoor running track and fitness activities.
- Yoga classes and other recreational programming.
- Juice bar for refreshments.
- Outdoor athletic field for additional sports and recreational activities.
One important distinction: these features are part of the proposed House of Sport concept. The final combination of activities has not been confirmed. The outdoor field is also dependent on the property's final parking and site design.
Still, the possibilities are interesting, especially for local families, youth athletes and anyone looking for another indoor recreational option during our wonderful Chicago winters.
What Happens to the Former Sears Building?
The plans call for at least 90,000 square feet of retail space, along with recreational activities that would make the property more than a traditional department store.
There are two possible layouts being considered. Dick's could occupy two levels of the former Sears building, or primarily use the second floor while making the lower level available for another retailer.
The redevelopment also includes exterior improvements, changes to the building's appearance and parking lot upgrades.
There's also an opportunity for additional retail tenants to eventually occupy portions of the property.
That's an important part of the bigger picture. Orland Square has been dealing with the vacant Sears anchor for years, and bringing an active destination back to that end of the mall could help attract shoppers to surrounding businesses.
Is This Replacing the Existing Dick's Sporting Goods?
That's one question I expect people will have.
Orland Park already has a Dick's Sporting Goods store at Orland Park Place, just down the road from Orland Square Mall.
At this point, I haven't found confirmation that the existing store will close, relocate or continue operating alongside the proposed House of Sport.
So for now, that remains an open question.
How Much Is Orland Park Investing?
Here's another part of the project worth knowing about.
On December 1, 2025, the Orland Park Village Board approved a redevelopment agreement with Dick's Sporting Goods.
The agreement provides for $6 million toward acquiring the former Sears property, plus up to $800,000 in additional eligible redevelopment reimbursements.
That's a potential $6.8 million in direct financial assistance.
The Village is also responsible for certain stormwater improvements and replacing the traffic signals at 151st Street and Regent Drive. Those infrastructure costs are separate from the $6.8 million.
Orland Park is planning to establish a Tax Increment Financing district, commonly called a TIF, to help recover eligible redevelopment costs.
In simple terms, a TIF uses future increases in property tax revenue generated within a designated area to help pay for redevelopment and infrastructure improvements.
The agreement also allows the Village to consider a business district with an additional sales tax of up to 1%. That does not mean the additional tax has been enacted.
There are potential benefits here. A vacant building could become an active retail destination, attracting visitors and supporting other businesses. Some of the infrastructure work could also benefit future redevelopment around the mall.
But there's a public investment involved, and whether the project eventually generates enough additional economic activity and tax revenue to justify that investment remains to be seen.
For anyone interested in the original financial details, the Village has published its December 2025 redevelopment agreement summary.
When Will Dick's House of Sport Open?
Don't expect to see the doors opening immediately.
As of the Village's September 2026 economic development update, the project plans had been submitted and were undergoing review. The Village was targeting January 2027 for establishing the project's TIF district.
Under the redevelopment agreement, Dick's is required to begin construction by May 31, 2027, with a target opening deadline of March 31, 2029.
Those are contractual milestones, not confirmation that construction has started or that an official grand opening has been scheduled.
I'll continue following the project as plans are finalized and more details become available.
The Bottom Line
Personally, I think the most interesting part of this proposal is the shift away from traditional retail.
We're talking about taking a vacant department store and potentially turning it into a place where families can shop, practice sports and participate in recreational activities under one roof.
Whether that translates into a successful long-term investment for Orland Park is something we'll have to watch.
But after years of looking at an empty Sears building, it's certainly a different direction for the property.
What do you think? Would you visit a Dick's House of Sport for the recreational activities, or do you think Orland Park would be better served by something else at the former Sears?