The former Chick’s Sporting Goods store at Plaza El Segundo will open as a Dick’s Sporting Goods store on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.

The 45,000-square-foot shop is the first Dick’s in California as well as the first Chick’s conversion, said Lori Keller, store manager for the El Segundo store.

The remaining Chick’s stores will be converted in the second half of 2009, according to a recent company conference call transcript courtesy of Seeking Alpha. Chick’s has stores in Yorba Linda, Laguna Hills, Ladera Ranch and Tustin at The Market Place.

Dick’s also plans to open at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, mall spokeswoman Jane Gillespie said. The retailer plans to open a 44,000-square-foot store in summer 2009, she said.

As of Aug. 2, the company operated 357 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in 38 states, primarily throughout the eastern half of the U.S. Last year, Dick’s bought Chick’s, a chain founded in 1949 that operates 15 stores in Southern California.

Dick’s offers a broad assortment of sporting goods equipment, clothing (pictured above) and footwear for baseball, football, hunting, golf, fishing and more. Brands include Nike, North Face and Wilson. It also carries fitness equipment such as treadmills and yoga gear. To virtually tour a Dick’s store, CLICK HERE.

Sales at Dick’s stores open at least a year fell 3.7 percent in the fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 2.

(Photos from Dick’s Web site.)

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