Cabela's to open a store in Woodbury next year

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WOODBURY, Minn. -- Cabela’s, a major outdoor sporting goods retailer, announced last week that it will open its fourth Minnesota store in Woodbury.

Contrary to earlier reports about Cabela’s moving into Tamarack Village, Woodbury city officials say there is no room for the 85,000 square-foot store to move into the shopping center.

Community Development Director Dwight Picha said there is a 15-acre parcel north of Tamarack Village on Hudson Road that would be suitable for the space.

However, the company has not submitted an application for the plans yet, Picha said.

Picha said the privately owned land is zoned for retail and that he plans to meet with company officials in two weeks to begin the process, which takes about three months to complete.

Messages left for Cabela’s media personnel were not returned, however, the news release states that Cabela’s expects to open the store in 2014 and employ up to 185 full and part-time employees. Construction is expected to begin this fall, the release states.

Cabela’s also plans to hire from Woodbury and the surrounding area, attracting staffers with a passion for the outdoors.

“Minnesota offers a tremendous array of outdoor pursuits and that has been highlighted by the commitment and loyalty of Cabela’s customers across the state,” Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner said. “Cabela’s has had remarkable success in the East Grand Forks, Owatonna and Rogers locations and we expect similar results in Woodbury.”

Although Cabela’s officials said the building’s exterior will reflect the store’s popular model with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing, it will still need to meet the city’s architectural standards.

The inside will feature the company’s next-generation layout, designed to surround customers in an outdoor experience, including dynamic wildlife displays and trophy animal mounts displayed on a mountain. The store will also feature a boat shop, gun library, aquarium, bargain cave and fudge shop, the news release stated.

Cabela’s stores showcase thousands of products, including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating and wildlife-watching gear, as well as clothing and outdoor-themed gifts and furnishings.

Adjacent to the proposed Cabela’s location, the Tamarack Village Shopping Center also includes Home Depot, JC Penney, Cub Foods and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Another sporting goods store, Gander Mountain, is located about two miles east of the proposed Cabela’s site off of Hudson Road.

Tags: news, minnesota, business, outdoors