Rock Walls and Turf Fields Are Replacing the Old Sears Anchor
Palm Beach Gardens, FL · September 19, 2026
Between the gentle hum of early morning tee times and the splash pads firing up at eleven, the weekend pace has settled in. If you are cruising down PGA Boulevard today, the quietest corner of the mall concourse is finally charting a radically different path forward.
The Lead
The empty two-story Sears building at The Gardens Mall won't stay quiet much longer. Following City Council approval of rezoning and a commercial recreation text amendment, mall operator Gardens Venture LLC is moving forward with transforming the vacant 140,000-square-foot footprint into a Dick's House of Sport. Rather than relying on traditional retail aisles, the incoming two-level layout centers on participatory athletics, incorporating indoor rock-climbing walls, multi-sport batting cages, and TrackMan golf simulator bays. Outside, developers will convert part of the surrounding asphalt into an 18,500-square-foot open-air turf field designed for youth clinics, weekend leagues, and community exhibitions. The broader overhaul also shuffles interior tenants, carving out space to relocate Arhaus while rebalancing the property’s total parking ratios. Permitting and interior site preparations now take center stage ahead of major structural buildouts.
Local Pulse
Crews Tackle Invasive Plants at District Park Parks Public works teams enter the wooded parcel Monday to clear invasive vegetation and restore native pine flatwood buffers.
Industrial Flex Space Faces Development Review City Hall Planners review zoning and land use changes Monday afternoon for a proposed light industrial commercial facility on Old Dixie Highway.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Joins Coconut Crossing Business State permits clear the counter-service eatery to begin interior buildouts within the expanding shopping plaza along Northlake Boulevard.
Today's Outlook
- High 85°F · Low 73°F — Rain showers (31% chance of precipitation)
- Keep a compact umbrella handy for brief passing showers amidst the warm, humid air.
What's On Around Town
Today
Kids Club: Manatee Zone Party The Gardens Mall (3101 PGA Blvd), 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Free Educational presentations from Manatee Lagoon staff alongside hands-on crafts for young kids.
Splish Splash Summer Series Downtown Palm Beach Gardens (11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave), 11:00 AM–1:00 PM · Free Cool down with splash pad games, balloon art, and complimentary carousel rides.
The Guardians Chess Club Gardens Branch Library (11303 Campus Dr), 1:30–3:30 PM · Free Casual boards and personalized beginner instruction for players of every skill level.
Live Music at Voodoo Bayou Downtown Palm Beach Gardens (11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave), 9:30–11:59 PM Late-night rhythm, blues, and Cajun pub fare on the outdoor promenade.
Tomorrow
- Public Swim & Splash Pad Gardens Aquatic Complex (4404 Burns Rd), 12:00–4:00 PM
- Teen Tech Dissection: Laptop Edition Gardens Branch Library (11303 Campus Dr), 3:00–4:00 PM · Free
Monday
- Development Review Committee: Old Dixie Flex Space City Hall Council Chambers (10500 N Military Trail), 2:00–3:00 PM · Free
- Experience Meditation Gardens Branch Library (11303 Campus Dr), 3:00–4:00 PM · Free
- County Bookmobile Visit Grove Park Elementary School (8330 N Military Trail), 4:00–4:45 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- The Palm Beach Chess Club
- Every Tuesday, an unassuming dining corner at The Habit Burger Grill on Northlake Boulevard transforms into a battleground of clocks and wooden pieces. Unrated and entirely free, the weekly meetup pairs master-level tacticians against neighborhood rookies over burgers and shakes.
Palm Beach Gardens Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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