Cabela’s heading south, hole will be filled quickly, BIZ says

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/03/2012 (5179 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While a popular West End outdoor supplies retailer has announced plans to move to the southwest part of the city, it won’t be long before a new retailer moves in, a local business organization says.

Cabela’s — which sells hunting, fishing and outdoor gear and caters to nature enthusiasts — will relocate its current Winnipeg store from Ellice Avenue to a larger location near the intersection of Sterling Lyon Parkway and Kenaston Boulevard next year.

Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner, executive director of the West End BIZ, lamented the loss of Cabela’s for the area, noting that larger location options exist in the West End and St. James area.

However, she didn’t fault the company for trying to capitalize on the traffic the IKEA development is expected to create.

“I hate to see any store vacate the inner city area to locate on the outskirts,” she said. “It’s sad to see all that development heading south instead of densifying in the heart of the city.

“We’re sorry to see Cabela’s go, but I don’t think that space will be empty for long.”

In 2007, Cabela’s bought S.I.R Warehouse Sports Store and mail-order operation and incorporated it into its business. In 2010, the company acquired a 345,000 sq.-ft. warehouse in Transcona to serve as its Canadian corporate headquarters, call centre and distribution centre.

Cardwell-Hoeppner predicts the 44,000-sq. ft. space on Ellice will be scooped up quickly once Cabela’s makes it move.

“The location is on a busy street with excellent visibility. I am sure it won’t be long before someone snaps it up,” she said.

Although Cabela’s is outside of the BIZ’s boundaries, businesses like it along the fringes of Polo Park Shopping Centre play an important role in drawing people into the West End, she added.

Cabela’s new 70,000-sq. ft. store will form part of the Seasons of Tuxedo retail development, which will include IKEA.

Cabela’s spokesperson Wes Remmer said construction will begin this summer and the store should be open next spring.

“The combination of the new location and bigger facility will create a better experience for our customers.

We’ve been in the current building for the last few years and we want to stay in Winnipeg,” Remmer said.

Cabela’s expects the new location will employ up to 210 full- and part-time employees, which would create an additional 110 positions in Winnipeg.

The building’s exterior will reflect Cabela’s traditional store model with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing. The store will also feature a gun library, bargain cave and a fudge shop.
— with files from Simon Fuller

Facebook.com/TheMetroWPG
Twitter: @metroWPG

matt.preprost@canstarnews.com