Crowds flood Scheels’ new store at grand opening

The ribbon was cut and the long line of people filed in as Scheels opened the doors on its new location Thursday.

Scheels said around 1,500 showed up, curious to see what they had.

“There’s a lot of new things opening, like a ferris wheel, a bowling alley,” said 12-year-old Zaid Albatat.  “Me and my friends just want to try that out.”

Store Leader Louie Sikich said it was 22 months in the making.

“There’s a lot of labor we put into this on a lot of levels, but we have a great crew that’s ready to go and a lot of pride in there today,” Sikich said.

He said the new store triples the size of the old building.  It features a café, a toy store, galleries of games, an aquarium and a 65–foot ferris wheel.

“Who puts a ferris wheel in a store?  And why?  Because we can,” Sikich said.  “People are going to come here because they need product and they need goods, but what else can they do to have fun?  There’s something for anyone who is three years old to 80 years old.”

And of course, plenty of sporting goods for outdoorsmen and athletes.

Albatat said he boxes.  He said he can get his sports equipment and find some fun at this new store.

“I feel like it’s an amusement park almost,” Albatat said.  “I can come here with my friends and also just find stuff to be athletic.”