If you’re looking for something new to do, there’s plenty of distractions at Scheels

What does a visitor need to see when visiting Scheels for the first time? The sporting goods store, which opened July 1 at Towne East Square in Wichita, offers so much, it might be hard to take it all in.

Here are some of the highlights:

Aquarium: Scheels is known for its aquariums, which are at the entrance of the stores and are big enough that divers frequently get in them to feed the fish while customers watch. Wichita’s aquarium, like many in the Scheels chain, is populated with fish from around the world, many of which have been adopted from Rainforest Cafe restaurants as they close.

For the first two weekends, divers will be in the tanks feeding the fish regularly. After that, people who want to see the divers in the tanks should visit at 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Games and activities: Scheels has much more to do than just shop, so much so that many people decide to have their kids’ birthday parties at the store, said Tasha McKeever, the events coordinator for the store, and Scheels is OK with that.

Among the activities the store offers is “rollerball,” which features what is essentially a mini-bowling alley with tiny bowling balls. People can play for $1. They also can try a carnival-like “shooting gallery,” where they use toy guns to shoot a giant stuffed bear, an old car and gas cans. Each game is $1, or players can get 8 games for $5.

For kids ages 2 to 11, the store has an enclosed play area with slides, an obstacle course and netted climbing equipment, similar to what would be found inside a Chick-fil-A restaurant. Scheels also has an arcade filled with a variety of video games, each of which costs a quarter to play. On the second floor, a small plane is set up, and people can sit behind the controllers and pose for photos.

Sporting simulators: Shoppers can try out some Scheels’ sporting equipment before they buy. The store has a small batting cage as well as a golf simulator where customers can test out clubs. Wichita’s Scheels also has archery lanes.

Dining: Scheels wants customers to stay awhile, so they have many places where people can get sustenance. Ginna’s Cafe in the back corner of the store offers a full line of espresso drinks, both hot and iced, as well as frozen frappes, smoothies and fruity iced tea drinks. A case inside of the cafe is filled with packaged sandwiches and yogurt parfaits to go, and a big bakery case offers cinnamon rolls, muffins, sweet breads and more. The cafe also serves hot pizza by the slice as well as hot sandwiches and wraps. The cafe is famous for its grilled chicken sandwich, McKeever said.

Additionally, the cafe has a beef jerky bar where people can get different flavors by the half pound. Options include honey jalapeno, teriyaki beef, peppered turkey, Korean barbecue, Cajun and more. The cafe has lots of seating, or people can get food to go.

In the center of the store is the two-story Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory, where customers can get candy in bulk and shop from a wide variety of novelty candies — gummy sushi, for example. It also serves store-made fudge and chocolate treats, including chocolate-dipped pretzels, Oreos and nuts, as well as giant caramel apples. Fuzziwig’s also has ice cream, and its specialty is its 2-pound sundae. The candy store menu includes many gluten-free snacks.

Wichita touches: McKeever said that Scheels likes to design each of its stores to reflect the community where it opens, and this one is full of tributes to Wichita. People can see a life-sized WuShock built from Legos, a large wall near the back of the store that serves as a tribute to Wichita State University, and a mural of the Wichita skyline. Lots of other little touches throughout the store reference the city’s aviation history, and Scheels sells lots of unique WSU merchandise.