Cabelas in Cloquete area again?

[Northlander]

Here we go again. Trib says Cabelas really looking at the I-35 area off Cloquete hard.

Pros- Nice big store with plenty of goodies and good prices.

Get our local Gander Mt. energized?

Cons- Could really hurt the small guys like Fishermans Corner, Marine General.

Northlander broke and his Lund sinks from all the extra goodies he buys. LOL.

What are everyone elses thoughts on this one? This sure is more than a rumor now.

[SKIPPERS KID]

I herd they where looking in the Procter area. I will still support local stores. This would help out the area where ever they go?

[Bobby Bass]

Would be nice to have, would stop some of the Internet dollars from leaving the area. Still goes to the same place I know. Will always stop at Fishermen's and Marine. Can't pass up that service they offer.

[LoonASea]

I have always thought the old Nopeming site would be ideal for a Cabela's ,,but what do I know!!!!

Randoid

[traveler]

Funny, I've always liked Cabelas and welcome a store up here, but the couple times I've visited thier big stores i really haven't bought much. Probably depends on how they stock with the things we actually USE up here. I'll keep hittin' the general too:)

[gunflint]

It probably wouldn't matter to me. My wife would send them my picture and have me banned anyway. I know that Gander has been a disappointment the few times that I've been there. Of course it's hard to beat all you Duluth walleye guys to the inventory that I'm looking for.

[outdoor ran]

We make fish repos and displays for the Cabelas stores. My boss was just saying the other day that Cabelas was looking at land in cloquet. Myself I think it would be better in Duluth. Catch all them guys heading to Canada and BWCA from down south. Bargain cave here I come

[Catfishunter]

don't like and don't want it.

[matthothand]

Let me know when it's open. I will still spend my hard earned dollars at marine general and the corner but that bargain cave as well as some other lower priced goods are too tempting.

[brandones]

Personally, I don't know how much it will hurt the smaller stores. Sure, when they first open up, there will be a couple of hard months for the smaller bait shops. But, in the long run, I don't think that everyone will drive to Cloquet just to pick up a few fishing lures. Honestly, when I really need to stock up on a lot of tackle or get a new pole or reel, I'm not picking it up at a small bait shop, it comes from the Cabela's catalog in my living room. I don't think it will make a huge difference in the long run; I think we'll drive there for big stock-ups, but if we need just a couple standard things, we'll still be hitting up the local shops.

[Wade Joseph]

If they put it in Proctor, I'll be there probably once a month, but if they put it in Cloquet, Not very often especially when I can order online and have it delivered to my door.

[caseymcq]

Cabela's has become a bit of a novelty to me. I buy more clothes there then actual gear. I like their Cabela's line of clothing, I have a lot of their thermal clothing. They have a decent selection but their prices leave a lot to be desired on most of the gear. Some of their rods and reels are decently priced but so are Gander's. They don't deal on guns so I would much rather buy those from local shops. I guess I wouldn't mind seeing it in Cloquet. My wife will probably take similar action to Gunflint's and have me banned also.

Gander isn't perfect by anymeans but they have decent prices and their clothing is decent quality. I have a Tech H2O rainsuit and I am pretty happy with that. They have nice sweatshirts.

Fisherman's Corner is probably one of my favorite stores to buy fishing equipment. They carry lures I don't see at Gander or Cabela's. I haven't been able to find Custom Jigs & Spins Slender Spoons anywhere but there (as far a locally). I am probably letting out a priceless secrete here but Fisherman's Corner is also the only place I have been in that still has the good Berkley Lightning Rod Dave Genz icefishing rods that aren't made any more. FC will still get a lot of my business when it comes to rods, reels and tackle.

[ReelTimes]

From a reliable source, the three areas they're looking at hard are Cloquet, Carlton, and Moose Lake. I have actually heard they have the most interest in Moose Lake, due to some limitations with property that is available around Carlton and Cloquet. I think we will hear something fairly soon on this.

[upnorth]

Moose lake doesn't make a lot of sense. Why so far from anything resembling a metro area?

[ReelTimes]

Cabelas often times doesn't locate in large metro areas. Personally I would have thought Carlton but I understand they're not enamored with the casino proximity. I do know they do alot of traffic counts and the Moose Lake location has similar traffic counts. That is a popular vacationing area and many people get off their to access other roads to other areas. Anyone heading north to access hwy 210, 33, 53, the north shore, hwy 2 to Wisconsin, etc., would still have to pass by Moose Lake first. I don't think they rely so much on local population although it would clearly be important in their ability to fill jobs. Also, Moose Lake is expanding their state operations there with close to an additional 800-1000 jobs over the next few years, and traffic counts to that locale will only increase further because of state business.

[hovermn]

Look at the Owatona store. No where near a metro, but the lot is always packed.

Just sayin'. If you build it, they will come

[upnorth]

Owattona is about 22,000 and Moose Lake is about 2,200 and there ain't much more close by.

[Down Deep]

I buy almost everything in terminal tackle, rods & reels, line and other supplys from the locals like FC & the General and even Gander, but for capitol items like camping equipement, rain gear, outdoor clothing, etc., Cabelas and other out of town stores and internet vendors serve a need that Duluth does not offer. I'm glad to see Cabela's looking at the Duluth area because I like to look at the equipment, before I buy.

[ReelTimes]

I personally don't care where they locate. UpNorth, Moose Lake actually has 20,000 people within 15 minutes of town. 30,000 within 20-25 minutes. I know this from looking at market data from throughout the region. Even though there are smaller numbers within the town, there are alot of people living outside of the small towns.

[upnorth]

Reel times I realize that there are some smaller towns around to draw from in the Moose Lake area. Owatonna has the 20,000 to start with and alot more small towns in close proximity to draw from, not to mention being about an hour(give or take) from the southern Twin Cites metro area.

[nblasin]

For what it's worth my old man is on the Cabela's pro staff team and was down at the Roger's store this weekend and I had him ask about a storing possibly coming up here. They said not a chance, they are building 3 more stores this year, none of which will be in MN, but that there wasn't a chance of us getting one up here any time soon.

[ReelTimes]

nblasin...thats very interesting. Not sure what their time horizon is for planning these type of projects. Maybe it is further out? I do know for a fact that they have been in the 3 communities that I previously cited. In fact, multiple times. One of the other aspects is that they want very close proximity to I-35, which is problematic with some of the locations. Also, sufficient land for hotel and restaurant development is part of the program.

[smallieobsession]

some info...notice they are talking about a smaller store than Owatonna or Rogers. Those are each like 160,000 or more...

03/17/2007 10:25AM

Cabela’s considering four Carlton County sites for retail store

Jane Brissett Duluth News Tribune

Published Saturday, March 17, 2007

Four places in Carlton County are under consideration as sites for a new Cabela’s store.

Pat Oman, economic development director for Carlton County, said Friday that he’s been working with a search firm, Cresa Partners, for a year to find a location for the outdoor retailer. Cabela’s and Cresa officials are expected to visit the four Carlton County locations within the next two to three weeks. A decision probably will be made about a week later, Oman said.

Cabela’s seems to be seriously interested in building a store in the area, presumably because of the traffic to the northern reaches of the state where people participate in outdoor activities, and also to catch Canadian traffic, according to Oman. “They’re certainly going all-out to gather information,” he said.

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Jane Brissett Archive

“We do know we’re sort of on the short list,” Oman said. There is at least one site outside the county on that list, too, but Oman said he didn’t know where it is.

Cresa Partners has been scouting locations in the Northland for months. In January, Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson said Cabela’s had looked at sites in Duluth.

The Carlton County sites all are on Interstate 35. They are:

* In the Moose Lake area.

* Near the Carlton exit.

* Near the Cloquet exit.

* Near the Esko exit.

In some cases, the company is looking at several properties in the same area.

Thomson Town Board Chairwoman Ruth Janke said that the parcels under consideration in the Esko area are privately owned.

Cabela’s is looking for at least 20 acres on which to build a 100,000-square-foot store, which would be Minnesota’s fourth Cabela’s store, Oman said.

Company officials are moving quickly to make a decision, he said. “They’re considering this a top priority,” he said.

Cabela’s officials did not return phone calls from the News Tribune on Friday.

Oman said he was told Cabela’s is looking for a minimum of 20 acres, visibility from the interstate, easy access off the freeway, traffic volumes that would justify the location and an available workforce. He said he is unsure how many people the store would employ, but noted that the stores have full- and part-time jobs and offer full benefits.

The Thomson Town Board is in favor of the store locating within its boundaries, Janke said. “It would be a great help for our tax base. We don’t have much. We’re kind of a bedroom community,” she said.

Cabela’s is a unique retailer and people travel long distances to shop at its stores. “As much wildlife museums and education centers as retail stores,” is the way Cabela’s Web site describes the outlets.

The Owatonna store was the second-most popular tourist attraction in Minnesota in 2005, with 4.5 million visitors, according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The Mall of America in Bloomington was the top draw.

The largest Cabela’s in the state is the 185,000-square-foot Rogers outlet. The Owatonna store is 150,000 square feet and the East Grand Forks store is 60,000 square feet. No state currently has four Cabela’s stores.

Cabela’s reported $2.06 billion in total revenue last year. The company has 18 stores open and is growing aggressively, with 12 stores under construction. It is headquartered in Sidney, Neb. It began as a mail-order company and does a large catalog and Internet business.

[Harv]

I personally would LOVE to see Cabela's around this area. You can't honestly tell me that you guys/girls would not go there....it would be AWESOME! Sure the little man would hurt....but in all honesty when some big company moves in the "regulars" would still support the little man.

Cabela's would be a huge boost for this entire area. I also heard Moose Lake is probably the front runner due to all the land along I 35. The high school owns a lot of land along I 35 and that is where Cabela's is looking at.

[ReelTimes]

Harv, That is what I am hearing too.

[upnorth]

I wish they would have thought of maybe Canyon or Cotton so those of on the range would have easier access to it.

[Son_ofa_Fish]

I second that thought Upnorth.

[MNGrouser]

The "problem" with Moose Lake is Wisconsin traffic. People heading to Canada from Wisconsin or Illinois are going to be coming up Wisconsin Hwy 53. I don't think they are going to backtrack that far south on 35. In Proctor or Esko you could still get the traffic whether they're headed to Canada via Pigeon River or I-falls or going to the BWCA. I have said for a long time this area makes great sense for Cabelas. With Lake Superior blocking vehicles, travelers heading North are bottle-necked into the Twin Ports.

Grouser

[PiedmontAngler]

My guess would be Moose Lake or just South of the Hwy 210/ Hwy33 turn offs. That way they will hit all of the Twin Cities travelers heading up North before they turn off 35. I'd bet they are not thinking much about the traffic that comes in through Wisconsin. Either way, Gander is my closest BIG box store and I usually get my misc jigs from the local bait shops as I head to the lake.

[JustinG]

I really feel that a store like Cabela's would be great! Competition is always a good thing. I think the smaller shops who stay in business after Cabela's will be more customer service friendly, competitively priced, and will do better business because of it. The shops that will not survive will be the ones who stay with the same old high priced, crappy service status quo.

A perfect example of this would be what happened to Bemidji when Gander Mountain came to town. Bluewater Bait and Taber's Bait retained the local fisherman's dollar because they have great customer service and are willing to help you any way they can with your purchase. Kobilka's seemed to be doing just the opposite and they are now out of business.

Most of us will always do business with our local shops because the owners and staff are people that we have known for years who will always be the most knowledgeable and helpful...big box stores don't do that for me and I don't think they do it for most people.

Big box stores like Cabela's and Gander are great for clothing purchases, sale stock ups, and things that aren't available at your local shops. I don't think they will replace the small stores who know you by name when you come in the door. That kind of customer service is worth something to me! I do, however, enjoy walking the aisles in the big box stores to drive my wife nuts!

Take Care,

Justin