Dick's Sporting Goods

Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest sporting goods retail chain in the United States, operating 850+ stores across 47 states. Founded in 1948 by Dick Stack as a bait and tackle shop in Binghamton, New York using $300 from his grandmother's cookie jar, the company grew into a dominant force in mainstream sporting goods retail.

Then came 2018. After the Parkland shooting, Dick's made a decision that permanently altered their relationship with the firearms community -- they removed all AR-style rifles from stores, raised the minimum purchase age to 21, and destroyed $5 million worth of inventory. This wasn't a temporary PR move.

They meant it, and they've doubled down ever since.

• •Dick's transformation from firearms-friendly to mainstream athletics retailer

Dick's is now a mainstream athletic retailer that happens to sell some firearms -- not a firearms destination. They've made their choice, and it shows in everything from selection to staff knowledge.

Dick's operates massive 50,000 to 80,000 square foot stores focused on athletic gear, team sports, and outdoor recreation. The firearms department, where it still exists, feels like an afterthought tucked into the corner.

You'll find firearms departments in about 60% of stores, and that number keeps shrinking. Many urban and suburban locations have eliminated guns entirely. The writing is on the wall -- they're getting out of the firearms business store by store.

Where firearms departments still exist, you'll find a sanitized selection that wouldn't offend anyone's suburban sensibilities.

Dick's operates a sanitized firearms selection designed not to offend suburban sensibilities -- if you're looking for anything beyond basic hunting guns, you're in the wrong store.

The ammunition selection covers common hunting and target calibers, but don't expect great deals. You're better off checking Academy, Walmart, or buying online. During shortage periods, they implement purchase limits like everyone else.

Their background check process follows federal requirements plus their own additional restrictions.

• •21 minimum age for all firearms (exceeds federal law)
• •Additional restrictions beyond federal requirements
• •Staff tendency toward overly cautious denials
• •Standard federal background check process plus company policies

Dick's operates across 47 states with their heaviest presence in the Northeast where they started. The Southeast and Midwest each have 150+ stores, while their western footprint is smaller.

The trend toward removing firearms varies by market. Urban stores dump guns first, while rural locations in hunting territory are more likely to keep them. But even there, it's a shrinking commitment.

• •Urban stores eliminate firearms first
• •Rural hunting markets more likely to retain gun counters
• •Overall shrinking commitment across all markets
• •Quiet removal without public announcements

If you're planning to visit specifically for firearms, call first. Many locations have quietly removed their gun counters without fanfare.

Dick's made a calculated business decision in 2018 -- they decided the mainstream sports market was worth more than keeping firearms customers happy. From a pure business standpoint, they were probably right.

Dick's made a calculated decision that the mainstream sports market was worth more than firearms customers. From a business standpoint, they were probably right.

Their stock price recovered, and suburban moms buying soccer cleats don't care about their gun policies. But for firearms buyers, Dick's is now irrelevant.

The selection is limited, the pricing isn't competitive, and the staff knowledge ranges from minimal to nonexistent. Even where they still sell guns, you're better served by dedicated firearms retailers, sporting goods chains that actually want your business, or online dealers.

The real story here isn't what Dick's offers gun buyers today -- it's what their transformation tells us about corporate America's relationship with firearms. They picked their side, alienated millions of customers, and made it work financially. That's worth understanding, even if you'll never shop there again.

For everything else -- athletic gear, team sports, outdoor apparel -- Dick's does fine. Just don't go there expecting to be treated like a valued customer if you're buying guns and ammo.