Chandler SCHEELS invited us in store before their upcoming grand opening (September 30, 2023) to preview and kid-test all their attractions.
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, Chandler SCHEELS isn’t just a sporting goods store–it’s a destination and experience. In fact, we heard a fun fact while taking a tour of Chandler SCHEELS: the average person spends around three hours in the store.
Though that may sound excessive, once you visit, it’s easy to understand why.
East Valley families, you are going to love SCHEELS (and here’s a blog post about what exactly your kiddos will love!). Keep reading for the attractions that were the biggest surprises and details to us and our kiddos!
XO,
East Valley Moms
1. Playland
Complete with a toddler area (for kids 3 and under), this play area is a fun way for the kids to burn off energy! It’s like a play place in quick service dining restaurants–slides, multiple levels for kids to climb up, and best of all, it’s enclosed so kids can be noisy and have a great time without having to shush them for bothering other shoppers.
2. Toyland
Kids and adults alike love this area! From Legos to Barbies to STEM activities, there are so many popular and unique toys for kids.
But what really wow’d me: their LEGO collection. Guys, this is like a LEGO store within a store. It’s huge, and I know where I’ll be doing all my holiday toy shopping this year.
3. Beef Jerky Bar
Yep, you read that right! Inside their restaurant there’s a beef jerky bar to mix and match your favorite (or your husband’s) favorite dried meats.
Isn’t this a fun gift for the guy in your life? Or for a big campout or camp-themed birthday party!
4. Bath Bomb Bar
This is a perfect quick ‘thinking of you’ customizable gift. Shoppers can mix and match different scents of bath bombs and put them in a fun package for $6.99.
There’s also cute little mini bath bombs, too! Perfect for gifts for younger kiddos who are all into pampering.
All these little build-your-own gift stations are unique, hands-on experiences that kids will love to build for a gift that came customized by them!
5. Roller Ball
Chandler SCHEELS has a two-lane rollerball area (like a mini bowling alley) for families to play. Seriously, this store may have more to do in store than the rest of the mall combined!
All these incredible attractions are sprinkled throughout the store, so part of the fun is not knowing what’s behind every turn! Hint: the roller ball is near the archery section!
6. Fuzziwigs Candy Factory
This candy store has it all: bulk candy to build-your-own bag, packaged candies I haven’t seen in years, plus fresh, handmade chocolates, gourmet caramel apples and fudge!
We were able to try some of their famous fudge, and it’s incredible, absolutely you’ll want to pick up some while you’re in store.
7. Arcade
These arcade games are fun for everyone and are a great incentive for kids to power through the shopping portion of the visit to SCHEELS quickly to get to the real fun.
Games are family-favorites, like Nerf shooting games, motorcycle racing games and big buck hunter shooting games. Like all the other attractions in-store, these are affordable to play.
8. The Fish Tank
We’ve all seen the photos of the fish tank. But it’s even more impressive in person! With over 600 fish in the tank and 16,000 gallons of saltwater, it’s truly something to be admired.
We could keep adding to the list (the Arizona sports fan gear section, the wildlife display, the airplane hanging in the middle of the store), this list goes on and on, but truly, this is a shop you need to experience yourself to understand just how incredible its offerings are!
As you plan your visit (grand opening is Saturday, September 30, 2023), be sure to plan to stay a while–SCHEELS is not a store you’ll want to rush through. (There’s also a cafe, so you can have a quick bite midway through exploring the store!)
If you’re curious about the Grand Opening celebrations, be sure to check out our calendar listing all about it, and what their FREE parking lot party will have for families.
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