When a winter storm hits or a hurricane warning rolls through your city, everyone has the same question on their mind: “Will my usual stores even be open – and if so, when?” For folks eyeing that crucial purchase at Dick’s Sporting Goods—say, a rain jacket before the rain hits—the answer isn’t always obvious up front. This article tackles exactly how Dick’s Sporting Goods handles store hours during inclement weather or emergencies, blending firsthand experience, corporate policies, real customer stories, and external regulations. I’ll even walk you through a real example, sprinkle in expert commentary, and add in some official sources, so you can get a genuine sense for what to expect—and what you can do next.
Let’s cut to the story: Last December, I was planning a ski trip from New Jersey, and the forecast called for a big snowstorm on the day before our trip. Naturally, I needed thermal gloves, so I headed to the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Paramus. But—surprise—when I got there at my usual early hour (8:30 a.m.), the doors were locked and two employees were stuck outside trying to get hold of their manager.
I grabbed my phone, checked Dick's Paramus store page, and saw a banner: Due to severe weather, opening may be delayed. Check back for updates.
That moment taught me: Unlike grocery chains like Kroger that almost never close, Dick's Sporting Goods does sometimes delay or even close stores completely when weather gets bad. The process is actually a bit involved—let’s break it down in practical steps.
From practical experience (and backing it up with what multiple staff told me), here’s basically how it works:
“Due to severe weather conditions, this store will open at 12PM or when local authorities indicate safe passage.”that’s a sign the central team gave the green light for a delayed open.
The upshot: yes, Dick’s Sporting Goods stores really do open later—or sometimes not at all—if the weather is dangerous. Sometimes, things go wrong; I once showed up after a storm at my local Dick's, only to find the auto-update hadn't happened online and the employees were as surprised as I was about the delay (the manager was stuck in traffic).
To get the “inside story,” I asked a Dick’s store manager from Pittsburgh (who requested I not use his name on record) how decisions go down behind the scenes:
“Whenever there’s a snowstorm, we’re basically told to check local roads before heading in. If buses aren’t running or the mayor says stay home, we get clearance to delay or close. The website updates quickly, but on really bad days we might wait for a confirmation from headquarters. Customers always call or show up even if we post online—so if you’re ever unsure, it’s best to call the store directly.”
Remember when Texas froze up in February 2021? Stores all over—including Dick’s Sporting Goods locations in Dallas and Houston—had to adjust. I found a community thread on Reddit (see here) where Dallas area shoppers tracked which chains opened, closed, or shifted hours. Dizzyingly, Dick’s store hours showed “Open” in Google for two locations that were physically closed due to staff being unable to reach the store. Afterward, Dick’s issued an official store-wide memo (seen via the company website):
"For the safety of our team and community, DICK’S Sporting Goods stores across Texas will remain closed Monday and Tuesday due to severe weather. Updates will be posted online and via local radio."
Not every country lets chain stores have flexible policies. The United States allows considerable local discretion, and in the case of natural disasters, state laws usually defer to business judgment—except in strict cases like mandatory government curfews (see FEMA disaster policy).
| Country | "Verified Trade" Standards | Legal Basis | Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Flexible (Store-level discretion, FEMA guidance in emergencies) | FEMA Regulation 44 CFR | FEMA, Local Government |
| EU (e.g., Germany) | Stricter, must comply with local union and city laws, “Social Emergency Law” applies | German Shop Closing Law §12b | Local Government, Police |
| Japan | Flexible, but company policy must be disclosed; Municipal orders override | Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act | Local Disaster Response HQ |
What’s fascinating (and a bit wild) is this: The United States gives brands like Dick's Sporting Goods considerable leeway based on company judgment—so long as there isn’t an active legal order to close. In contrast, Germany and some EU countries set stricter rules, often requiring every change be logged and even reported to the police or local labor office.
To help sort this out, I asked Dr. Lena Schwarz, a retail management professor at NYU Stern:
“US retailers—especially those headquartered in Pennsylvania or the Midwest—tend to have flexible, playbook-style rules for disruptions. The challenge is really in the ‘last mile’ — messaging speed, staff being able to reach the store, and coordinating updates across all platforms. It’s rare for offline signage and online tools to be 100% in sync during weather emergencies.”
This lines up with my experience: One icy February morning, I saw three different opening times—one on Google, one on the store’s voicemail, and one on the physical door sign. Called the store, no answer, so I ended up just waiting in the car for an hour. Not efficient, but sometimes you need your new sneakers.
If you’re trying to shop at Dick’s Sporting Goods during bad weather (or in the midst of a wider emergency), here’s what actually works:
The bottom line: Dick’s Sporting Goods does change opening hours (delay, close early, or close entirely) in the face of inclement weather or emergencies—driven by both corporate policy and real-world conditions. But, information can sometimes lag between platforms and staff, so patience (and a phone call) is your best bet. Personally, I always check a couple of sources and show up with a backup plan—or just order online and hope UPS is more predictable than the weather.
Next time a storm is brewing: Check several sources, bring your patience, and remember—while that new gear can wait, safety absolutely cannot.
Author: Daniel S., retail analyst and frequent Dick’s customer. For fact checking, reference FEMA guidelines (fema.gov), Dick’s Sporting Goods official policies, and community reports via Reddit and Nextdoor.