U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, celebrates after climbing the rock wall at the new Dick’s House of Sport in Davenport, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 29. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The 30-foot-tall rock climbing wall at Dick’s House of Sport has a way of attracting crowds – young and old. “We’ve had a lot of couples on this wall. We’ve had adults and a lot of young people,” said Grant Kotaska, a rock wall worker at Dick’s, 5250 Elmore Ave., Davenport. He added that the […]
Already a subscriber? Log in
Want to Read More?
Get immediate, unlimited access to all subscriber content and much more. Learn more in our subscriber FAQ.
The 30-foot-tall rock climbing wall at Dick’s House of Sport has a way of attracting crowds – young and old.“We’ve had a lot of couples on this wall. We’ve had adults and a lot of young people,” said Grant Kotaska, a rock wall worker at Dick’s, 5250 Elmore Ave., Davenport. He added that the wall has even had a 71-year-old woman make the climb to the top.Now, the wall has attracted a 67-year-old congresswoman from Iowa. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks climbed the wall Tuesday morning, Aug. 29, during a celebration to welcome the wall and Dick’s House of Sport to the community.
1 of 5
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held Tuesday, Aug. 29, for the rock climbing wall at Dick’s House of Sport on Davenport’s Elmore Avenue. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Todd Steinhart, executive director of Dick’s House of Sport, points out some of the features of the new Davenport retail store on Tuesday, Aug. 29. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Two employees of Dick’s House of Sport demonstrate their rock-climbing skills Tuesday, Aug. 29, on the rock wall inside the new Davenport store. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, climbs the rock wall.
Davenport Mayor Mike Matson talks with Avery Owens, community and events manager with Dick's House of Sport, on Tuesday.
More than 50 people attended the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony at the remodeled and rebranded sporting goods store. The updated Dick’s House of Sports opened in July and features a wide variety of sporting goods and displays.Tuesday’s brief ceremony centered on welcoming one of the store’s main features – the rock wall, which recently opened inside the sporting goods store.“This is a tall addition to the community. … This is another great addition to Davenport and the Quad Cities,” Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said during the event.That ceremony brought together Dick’s employees, members of the business community and area political leaders, such as Iowa State Rep. Ken Croken, Mayor Matson and Rep. Miller-Meeks, who took the opportunity to give the rock wall a climb at the end of the ceremony.Since the rebranded Dick’s House of Sports reopened in early July – and hosted a grand opening celebration July 21 – the business has been keeping busy welcoming thousands of customers.“It’s been going very good. Everybody in the community has been super excited about the place,” Todd Steinhart, executive director of Dick’s House of Sport, told the QCBJ before Tuesday’s festivities.Dick’s House of Sports in Davenport employs about 120 people.In the past few months, Dick’s officials have conducted a series of grand openings throughout the country to introduce the rebranded Dick’s House of Sport to the country.“These grand openings have been a superb way to introduce the House of Sport store to our customers in these markets,” Toni Roeller, senior vice president of in-store environment, visual merchandising and House of Sport, said in a statement. “We’re equally excited about bringing House of Sport to more communities in 2024 and beyond.”The company plans to open 10 more House of Sport stores in 2024 and 75 to 100 by the end of 2027, Lauren Hobart, president and CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, said in May during the company’s first quarter earnings conference call.
