 |
| FishTails |
Cabela's Welcomed
[March 30, 2003] from Wheeling News-Intellegencer,
by Carley Amico
See "Cabela's comin to West Virginia"article:
http://www.wvbass.com/articles/2003/0303l.html
They call it a "perfect fit."
The state that serves as a vacation destination and home for the most dedicated outdoors enthusiasts is now welcoming
"The World's Foremost Outfitter" of outdoors supplies - Cabela's.
And the Ohio Valley is embracing what is expected to become a catalyst for economic development and a host to more
than 1,200 "good paying" jobs.
"Cabela's is a perfect fit for West Virginia and this area," West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise said Thursday,
prior to the groundbreaking ceremony at the Fort Henry Business and Industrial Centre near Dallas Pike. "It's
a major job creator, with a potential for additional investment around it."
Cabela's President and Chief Financial Officer David Roehr joined the governor in announcing to the crowd of several
hundred public officials, outdoorsmen, and interested residents that a 175,000-square-foot store is scheduled to
open at the site in August 2004, with a 1 million square foot distribution center set to open beforehand, in April
2004.
"We're excited," Roehr said. "We're going to bring you something we feel you're going to be very
proud of. ... It'll be one of our nicest stores we've done."
On the surface, West Virginia, with its hunting, fishing, and camping heritage, is an obvious choice for the 10th
Cabela's "destination" store.
But choosing a location for the store and distribution center is complicated, Roehr said, and there are a variety
of factors that make Ohio County the ideal spot.
"These things don't go together easily," he said.
One of the primary reasons Ohio County was chosen was its proximity to populations in which outdoor recreation
is especially popular. Neighboring Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as West Virginia, make Ohio County a key location.
"We want to be where our customers are," he said.
The convenience to Interstate 70 helps make the store easily accessible for tourists and is also a plus for the
distribution center, which will serve millions of catalog customers and the Hamburg, Pa. store.
Wheeling is a short drive from the population centers of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Columbus. Roehr said the company
prefers to build its stores in "small, rural" communities that are within range of metropolitan areas.
"It's in a small town but it's close to a lot of critical mass," Roehr said.
He added that Cabela's is "not a mall-based retailer." The Fort Henry site is similar to the company's
nine other retail locations throughout the U.S.
But the deal would not have been made without cooperation from the state and local government.
The passage of sales tax increment financing in the state Legislature this month, along with a financing package
and the state's pledge to construct the $12 million "Exit 11" interchange from I-70 directly to the site,
all were major factors in the company's decision to build here.
Ohio County plans to build roads and other needed infrastructure by selling bonds that will be repaid by setting
aside up to $60 million in Cabela's sales tax revenues for up to 10 years. That funding scheme was allowed by the
TIF law.
The state plans to spend $34 million on other infrastructure with bonds to be repaid by lottery funds channeled
through the state's Economic Development Grant Committee, Wise said. Ohio County has an application for $20 million
before the committee and is expected to submit an amended application.
Wise said having tax increment financing allowed the state to be competitive in its recruitment of Cabela's, and
it will serve as a vital "tool" in growing the state's economy.
Cabela's Vice Chairman Jim Cabela also noted the state's environment and the area's work force as additional factors
that attracted the retailer.
"West Virginia's scenic beauty, its commitment to preserving its outdoors for people to use it respectfully,
its people's incredible participation rate in outdoor recreation all were factors in our decision to locate in
the state," Cabela said.
"Add to that the reputation West Virginia's people have earned as dedicated, hardworking employees, and we
knew we had found the right location for Cabela's newest center."
Roehr said the store is expected to attract about 4 million shoppers a year, with about half of those people traveling
from out of town.
The store will attract shoppers from all 50 states, but the largest number of visitors is expected to live within
a 200-mile radius of Wheeling. He said at the other store locations, the average out-of-town Cabela's shopper spends
about $200 on hotels, restaurants, and other retail shops in the community during a typical visit.
In most of the states that house a Cabela's store, the stores quickly became the No. 1 tourist destination in the
state - and Roehr said this is expected to happen in West Virginia.
Museum-like displays featuring a variety of wildlife exhibits including native animals and live fish are planned
to occupy about half the floor space in the store. It is also set to have a restaurant, a special exhibit of white-tail
deer, and a satellite office for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, with a shooting and archery
range.
The DNR satellite office is set to offer a variety of safety and training classes and sell hunting and fishing
licenses.
The company plans to hire about 400 people to operate the retail shop. Within three years, the shop and distribution
center are expected to employ a total of more than 1,200 people.
"We believe we're a good company to work for," Roehr said. "We've got great benefits, we take care
of our people."
About three-fourths of the jobs in both the distribution center and store would be nonunion, many of them seasonal,
starting at about $8.50 an hour. About 75 to 100 managerial jobs would pay annual salaries around $30,000 to $35,000,
Roehr said. |
|
|
|
