RETAIL/TOURISM

A Dream Store: Field of Dreams, which says it’s the first nationwide franchise chain of sports memorabilia, opened its first Orange County store Wednesday at MainPlace/Santa Ana.

The store, the seventh in Southern California named after the popular 1989 film in which Kevin Costner plays an Iowa farmer who builds a ball diamond in his cornfield, features autographed baseballs and footballs, bats, collector’s cards and other sports paraphernalia from such modern-day sports heroes as Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson.

The autographs come with certificates of authenticity. But if that’s not enough, the store plans to have top-name athletes make personal appearances to sign autographs.

The franchise was developed by former Utah Jazz basketball team owner Sam D. Battistone. The first store opened last year in Palm Desert.