Did You Know This Retail Giant Started in Upstate New York

You learn something new every day, and today I learned that one of the biggest sporting goods retail stores in the country began right here in upstate New York.

It can be hard to believe that some of the most popular mega-stores had humble beginnings. Walmart, for instance, was just a solitary store in Arkansas in 1962 before its rocketing ascent to one of the largest retailers in the world. But back to New York...

Great Inventions in New York State

There are plenty of claims to fame in New York State. Blue jeans were first invented here, as was the best mayonnaise brand in the country. One store, however, has flown under the radar for years.

Dick's Sporting Goods Was Founded in Upstate New York

Hopefully I'm not the only one who didn't know this impressive fact about Binghamton, NY: it was the birth place of one of the most well-know franchises in American history, Dick's Sporting Goods. But that's not all.

History of Dick's Sporting Goods in New York

Dick's Sporting Goods, formerly known as Dick's Clothing and Sporting Goods, was founded in Binghamton, NY in 1948 by Richard Stack. The original store (below) has stood proudly at 347 Court Street... until now.

Dick's Original Binghamton Store Now Closed

It was recently reported that the original Dick's location, nicknamed "Store 1", closed its doors for good on February 28th. While the old-school building is virtually unrecognizable when compared to current Dick's locations, there's no denying the charm that is now lost with the store's closing.

Original Franchise Locations in the United States

There aren't many original franchise locations left of nearly any business in the United States. The first McDonald's, for instance, was demolished in 1972 and is now the site of the McDonald's museum (above). The same can be said for the first Walmart location (the museum has recently been moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, below).