The JCPenney at Springfield Town Center is set to shut its doors on May 24, 2026, and the long time two level anchor may not be quiet for long. Early redevelopment plans point to the space being reborn as a Dick’s House of Sport, complete with a synthetic turf field wrapped by a running track.
According to the Washington Business Journal, the concept would require demolishing part of the existing JCPenney building to carve out room for the turf and track setup and other House of Sport features. The outlet reports that the design would follow the company’s larger House of Sport playbook, which combines traditional retail with on site recreation and programming.
The store, one of the mall’s original anchors built in 1973, will close after 53 years of operation, FFXnow reports. That coverage notes the building’s address at 6699 Springfield Mall and says developers Meridian Group and Martin Diamond bought the JCPenney site in 2022, after which Catalyst Brands told local media it could not keep the store’s lease going.
What a House of Sport Would Bring
Dick’s House of Sport is built around the idea that shoppers might stick around longer if they can actually play. Reporting from Shaw Local on a proposed Joliet location lists climbing walls, golf simulators, batting cages and, in some cases, turf fields and skating rinks among the amenities. Company real estate executives told that outlet the format is meant to act as a regional draw, not just another big box.
NBC Chicago has described the House of Sport model as a multi level destination anchor designed to pump up foot traffic, with the sports facilities working hand in hand with the sales floor. In other words, the place is engineered so you can test the gear and then buy it a few steps away.
What This Could Mean for Springfield
Swapping out a traditional department store for a House of Sport would nudge Springfield Town Center further toward the mixed use, experience heavy lineup its owners have been chasing. Local coverage has followed a string of similar anchor conversions and new mixed use projects in the area, and ownership has argued that experiential tenants are key to keeping restaurants and services busy into the evenings and on weekends.
Whether Springfield gets its turf field and track will come down to the usual gauntlet of public permits, lease negotiations and county approvals. The potential House of Sport was first revealed when the Washington Business Journal obtained drawings and reported on the deal in progress. FFXnow has noted the site has been on redevelopment wish lists for years, and now the timing largely depends on how quickly the paperwork catches up with the plans. We will keep an eye on public filings and developer announcements and report back once officials or the retailer make anything official.
