A 50,000-square-foot pop-up PGA shop has opened on the grounds of Aronimink Golf Club ahead of next week's PGA Championship, packing in more than 1,500 limited and exclusive items for fans. The temporary store was assembled in just a few weeks and opens to the public at 9 a.m. Friday, while tournament activities begin Monday with the first practice round.
Michael Quirk said the merchandise mix was built for the moment, with Philadelphia-themed T-shirts and specialty golf accessories among the draws. “There's over 1,500 different items to choose from - all limited, exclusive for this event. So it's not like you walk in here and you can pick something out a year later. This is it, and I think that's what makes it so exciting,” Quirk said. He added that organizers are trying to keep inventory high throughout the event so visitors have the best experience.
The scale matches the size of the event itself. Rob MacPherson said 200,000 people are expected to attend over seven days, with the PGA projecting a $125 million economic impact. Many area hotels are already fully booked, and the pressure is spilling into restaurants and bars across Newtown Square and the surrounding area.
That early buzz is already showing up at Casey's Public House, where Andrew Crisanti said the business is rolling out golf specials and John Daly cocktails for the week. “We're running some golf specials in terms of cocktails, we're going to do your John Daly's,” he said. Crisanti added, “Ready to rock for the week. It's an exciting time and it's exciting for Newtown Square for the new people to come to town and experience it.”
The buildup reflects what area businesses saw before the Women's PGA Championship at Aronimink in 2020, when Crisanti said traffic and sales noticeably increased. This time, the tournament arrives with bigger attendance projections, fuller hotels and a retail setup that was built to turn a golf week into a destination. By Monday, the championship will be underway, and Delaware County is already feeling the start of it.
