It has finally happened. The long-awaited retail stores for Gates of Prosper are beginning to open. Dick’s and Field and Stream are the first to open at the corner of U.S. Highway 380 and State Highway 289 in Prosper known as Gates of Prosper. Construction has been ongoing for more than a year.

It’s actually one store, said store manager Robert Gribbon as the doors opened to the public for the first time Tuesday morning. “It looks like two stores from the outside, but we own Field and Stream and it’s all one store inside,” Gribbon said. “On the Dick’s side is mostly sports equipment and clothing while the Field and Stream side is hunting and fishing equipment and accessories.”

When the store is fully staffed, Gribbon estimates the number of jobs will be approximately 125.

Prosper’s Chamber of Commerce ambassadors had a large group to provide a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming the new business to Prosper.

Tuesday’s event was what is termed a soft opening. Although the store is open for business now, the grand opening will be Friday. Gribbon said there will be all kinds of fun activities at the store throughout the day that customers won’t want to miss.

“This is tremendous,” said Prosper’s Mayor Ray Smith. “Looking around this store, it’s obvious it was built and put together with excellence and that is what we love in Prosper.”

-Joyce Godwin

Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com