Sometimes bad things happen for the better. It's amazing how…read morea sporting goods empire came to be from the actions of the boss of an 18-year-old kid employee named Dick, who asked the kid to come up with a list of ideas for products needed to get into the fishing tackle business, and after having been presented with the kid's suggestions, calling him a dumb kid who had no idea what he was doing. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Dick's Sporting Goods in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Just the other day a good friend of mine recommended me some comfortable HOKA Clifton 10 sneakers he had bought at this Dick's Sporting Goods store. So after finding those sneakers in their app that I had in my cellphone, I drove to their store today in my pearl white Lexus to try them on. This Dick's Sporting Goods store located next to the Valley View Mall in Roanoke, Virginia, is majestic in size to the point of being intimidating. After entering their gigantic entrance, it was like arriving to a whole new world where everything sports reigned. Absolutely everything you could think of that had to do with sports, they had in their infinite inventory very well arranged in categories throughout the store. At the end of the store, they had this relatively new and well designed open area where the sneakers department was. When I arrived, I saw a couple of tables with HOKA sneakers on display. They also had a small, easy to use computer to help customers find the perfect shoe they were looking for. But what I couldn't find was a sales associates to assist me to find the sneakers I needed. An order gentleman finally came out and didn't even greet me. I had to ask him if he could help me find the shoes I needed. He didn't seem too friendly, but he went back to get the men's HOKA Clifton 10 in black size 9 for me, in regular width and wide. He brought the two boxes and laid them on the wide bench where I was seated, not being helpful at all to put them on. I asked if he had a shoehorn and he said not at Dick's, like if I was crazy to ask that question. All the time he was ignoring me and not giving me his attention. It was the worst customer service that I had ever received anywhere, especially here that I thought was a high-end Sports category store. He looks at his watch and tells me it's his check-out time, that the other sales lady could help me. She was a bit kinder and knowledgeable but also delivered lukewarm service. After trying on the sneakers I had gone there for and feeling comfortable with them on, I walked over to the front cash register to pay for them. On my way there I saw one of the managers and asked if I could take some photos of their store for this review and he told me it was not allowed, that I had to get permission from corporate. I don't understand how a store of this nature could have employees and managers with such poor customer service skills. I guess they remain in business just because they have a well stocked store with a great variety of good quality products nicely displayed. The young gentleman in the cash register was also the same. Very serious and didn't even say thank you for shopping here. What a pitty, all the employees in this store seem to be treating their customers just as the boss of the founder treated him when he was a kid, disrespectful. I hope that corporate reads this review and takes actions in the recruitment and development of their employees, starting from their store managers and down the line. And that they listen to their customers and treat them with the respect they deserve.

* Please note i have previously posted about this issue at the Christiansburg store. As it also…read moreinvolved the Roanoke store I am posting about it here as well. Went to the Christiansburg location to buy an in-stock bike. I was told they could not sell it to me in the box. I explained I was from out of town. Didn't matter. I explained that my wife bought a bike in the box in the Roanoke store the previous week. Didn't matter. It's listed in stock and available for pick up. Didn't matter. It's right there. Didn't matter. Is this the policy because Roanoke did it. Not a policy... it's our "preference". Great, please sell me the bike. Didn't matter. Manager intimated that I wasn't being "professional" (not cursing or yelling on my part... just flabbergasted that it's this hard to hand Dicks money), and threw his staff under the bus -"I thought my employee could handle this" (I wasn't looking to be "handled" just wanted to buy a bike). He also said " I was going to offer you a discount". I explained I do not want a discount... I just want the bike so I can go riding with my wife this weekend. Didn't matter. I asked if it could be transferred to Roanoke in the box. He said that if Roanoke "wanted to get in trouble they could" and announced he had to go pick up his brother. Told him to drive safely. OK, is there another manager? 2nd manager refused to sell me the bike. Can you transfer to Roanoke? 2nd Manager (Ryan... although I don't believe this is how he spells it) said he would if it was OK with the Roanoke manager and even offered to drive it down in his personal vehicle after his shift (well done Ryan). Didn't matter because the manager in Roanoke would only do this if I picked it up at closing time. Can't I pick it up tomorrow? Only if it's "9AM sharp". But I'm out of town. Didn't matter. Roanoke manager "didn't want it on their floor". So I have to pick it up by appointment at your convenience rather than tomorrow afternoon? Didn't matter. What gives? Obviously not a liability thing- they were happy to sell me the bike in the box as long as I was willing to wait a day, go to a different city, and show up precisely when they preferred (when I was out of town). As they had told me the regional manager was coming into town and the communication seemed to oddly revolve around winning rather than selling me the bike I told the 2nd manager to give my number to the regional manager and that we could either work the issue out (wherein I simply hand someone a credit card and receive a bike) or I would just return the items purchased last week (incl. helmet, gloves, chain, vehicle rack, etc ). If I could have returned the first bike I would have (although it wasn't ridden it had been purchased over 24 hours ago). Interestingly, I was told that 24 hours was the policy but the store manager could override the policy. So the manager can override policy? Uh... OK. Having spent an hour and a half of my life attempting to buy an in-stock item, my desire to attempt to assist a third manager in a second store to understand this incredibly flawed internal logic had vanished. No call from the district manager yet so in the end I returned the above items to the Roanoke store as bike accessories do me no good without a bike. Despite my best efforts, and an hour and a half of my life, I could not hand anyone at Dicks my money today. Weird.

Associates are very helpful; store is clean and orderly. Great shoes yet I can't ever seem to find…read morewhat I want in my size much less a second pair to get the 50% off. It would appear that men sizes 11-12, normal width are just not replenished at the same rate as customer demands. This is a great store if you have small feet.

The stitching on one shoe is coming apart. Yes they are one year old but the quality is terrible…read more The outlet agreed there was a problem but they won't do anything if they are over 90 days old. This is poor customer service and I have purchased my last pair.

Quality merchandise for all your outdoor and active needs. They have the brands like Patagonia,…read moreKuhl and Duck Head among others that I really appreciate for their durability. Good service by staff who assisted me. I was in the market for a vest and found a few options. The prices are steep for quality, but I tend to be ok with that. They are a large store that also has all your outdoor footwear and sock needs too! Nothing but praise for this chain store. Next time in town will return.

Did not have good service. One of the few times I would recommend a chain over a small business.read more

Love this place. Personally, as a nascar fan there's not many places where you can get collectibles…read morelike diecast without buying online. But this place has it all. If you do like sports of any sort, not only nascar, this place will have something you like, guaranteed. If you're in the area, check them out. You won't be disappointed.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Lots of fun stuff for sports fans on every budget. They go out…read moreof the way to find particular items of interest if you name your favorite team or player. Super family friendly and lots to shop through.

The day I went, all I saw was clothing that was marked 30% off. Hardly worth the drive to look…read morearound. They had free cookies & cider for customers which was nice. Thought about buying a $99 belt that I thought was 75% off, only to find out that the 75% off sign applied to a shelf with only two stocking hats. The discounted price on the belt was still $70-$75. Prices too high for an outlet.

So impressive are these guys, I guarantee you, whatever it is you get from this shop, the…read moremanagement and staff will go completely to the nth degree to please. In the last two years, I've purchased two Spirit treadmills and a home gym by Body Solid from them. The first treadmill was a lemon, but it took awhile to suss it out. Chick Duus, the owner and Tanner Duus, the head of maintenance, completely replaced, from the manufacturer, every single part of the already brand-new treadmill. Unable to get it to work properly, they called Spirit, the manufacturer, who then provided me a brand new treadmill for absolutely nothing. They came to my house, disassembled the old one, piece by piece hauled it out, and piece by piece brought the new one in and assembled it! Same with the Body Solid gym. For all of this labor, I was charged not one penny, and these guys practically lived here in my basement for several months getting all of this together. Be absolutely sure, they are helpful, courteous, willing, capable, knowledgeable and excel in extreme diligence in making sure the customer is happy with whatever they provide! I'd buy anything from them.

This place is a cluster. Unless it all other quick and inexpensive sources have been exhausted,…read moredon't go. If you do choose to go wishing to also buy something used, double check first. The prices are different between new and used with items mixed. It is dark with loud music, on a weekend the parking lot was packed. It is really an all around bad experience.

Orvis is an American, family-owned retail and mail-order business, founded in 1856 in Manchester,…read moreVermont, by Charles F. Orvis. It is the oldest mail-order retailer in the United States and a leader in fly fishing, hunting, and sporting goods. In the beginning Charles Orvis opened his shop to cater to wealthy tourists, quickly establishing a reputation for quality fly-fishing tackle, pioneering mail-order catalog sales. The company struggled and financially collapsed during the Great Depression. In 1939 businessman Dudley "Duckie" Corkran purchased the failing company for $4,500 and revitalized it. Under Corkran, Orvis expanded its product line to include clothing and opened its first retail store in 1941. In 1965, Leigh Perkins purchased Orvis and transformed it into a lifestyle brand. He diversified the product range to include hunting gear, apparel, and dog accessories, and pioneered customer acquisition techniques by exchanging mailing lists with other retailers. He also established the first U.S. fly-fishing school in 1966 and introduced sporting clays to America. Leigh Perkins passed leadership to his sons, Perk and Dave Perkins, and later to his grandson, Simon Perkins, in 2020, ensuring the company remained family-owned. The company has expanded into e-commerce and has launched innovative Rodeo technologies like the Helios, and continues its commitment to environmental stewardship through the Orvis-Endorsed programs and conservation initiatives. Today, Orvis is an international, multi-channel retailer with its corporate headquarters in Manchester, Vermont, and major operations in Roanoke, Virginia, and the United Kingdom. When I moved to Roanoke, the first gift that I received from a friend was an Orvis Weather Breaker Jacket. And though I still have it today, it is worn down and I thought it was about time I got a new one, because its one of my favorites and practical things to wear. So I headed to the Orvis store located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, on Campbell Ave. Once there, a young gentleman greeted me and listened to what I was looking for. Then he showed me around and pointed out the jacket I was looking for, as well as several new items that would serve my need as well. He did a great job in following one of the company's core values that states: "Surprise & Delight Your Customer." He listened and built a relationship by being curious, personal, friendly & fun. He also earned credibility and trust by being open, honest & down to earth. And you could tell, he took pride in their products. When I asked him if they were having any Black Friday Sales this year, he told me he didn't know yet but that I could find some sales going on now in the company's website. When I asked him about a Bison Wallet they used to have, he showed what they had and was surprised they didn't have it on display but thought it might be coming in shortly and also suggested I look for it on their website. As we walked around the store, I was very impressed by its cleanliness, interior design, product display, and nice lighting treatment. All items were display to show their best. I also enjoyed viewing their fly-fishing equipment. After all, I have enjoyed fishing all my life and Saltwater Sport Fishing was my one of my favorite hobbies as I was growing up and being the youngest person to win the prestigious Yearly Cangrejos Yacht Club Fishing Tournament in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico by catching and landing a 403 lb Blue Martin after three and a half hours of struggling with him. In another occasion I also caught a 97 lb Bull Dolphin or Mahi-Mahi, also called Dorado, when I was even younger. I thanked the Orvis associate for his assistance and help, and promised to return on Black Friday to see what's going on there. I remember one year they had a roulette or something similar that gave you a discount of different amounts, depending what you picked. One at home I went to their website, found the sale the sales-associate was referring to and purchased the jacket I wanted to replace my worn down one. I highly recommend you visit this store if you're a local or a tourist. In it you will find nice, quality merchandise, and exceptional customer service, creating moments that exceed our expectations.

I was walking around downtown with my wife, dad, and son while we waited for it to be time to head…read moreout to the airport. Since it was Memorial Day most stores were closed. Not Orvis. My dad went in to look at some shirts. I had no intention of flouting anything but when I saw the style, which is similar to Colombia and other outdoors brands, I decided to try a few shirts on. I ended up buying two and my dad bought two as well. The employees at the store were very friendly and eager to help. As we left I noticed a sign outside where they offer free fly fishing 101 classes.