guard your wallet

[mdram]

SMYRNA -- Cabela's, one of the world's largest dealers in hunting, fishing and outdoors equipment, is eyeing Smyrna as a site for one of its mega-stores.
A Cabela's store would be a big addition to the Kent County economy and the region's retail landscape. It also could deal a knockout blow to local mom-and-pop stores that sell goods geared to the outdoors set.
A spokesman could not confirm that the company is exploring Smyrna as a site for a store, but he would say that Delaware is a logical market for Cabela's, which had about $2 billion in sales last year.

"We have a real estate team that is actively pursuing sites throughout the United States. I can also say that Cabela's has quite a few customers in Delaware," spokesman John Castillo said.

Town officials, who have held talks with the Nebraska-based retail giant, are playing their cards close to their chests. So is the developer of the likely site.

Mayor Patricia Stombaugh would say only that she has "heard rumors, the same as you have."

However, she added, "I don't give things away as easily as some people."

Town Manager David Hugg reportedly has met with Cabela's officials.

He did not return calls seeking comment.

But state Rep. Bruce C. Ennis, D-Smyrna, confirmed that talks have been held. "They had some interest and met with some town officials," Ennis said, adding that the talks took place "a couple weeks ago."

"I haven't heard the final decision whether they're going to come," he said.

Employees at the Cabela's mega-store in Hamburg, Pa., recently told a visiting reporter that a store will be built in Smyrna. One said he plans to sell his house and move to Delaware to take a job here, once the store opens.

According to Ennis, Cabela's is focusing on the Simons Corner Shopping Center, under construction on U.S. 13 across from the south Smyrna exit of Del. 1.

Simons Corner developer Robert Wittig did not return calls placed to his home and office seeking comment.

Simons Corner would be a natural fit for Cabela's: The company usually locates its mega-stores close to interchanges on major highways.

A Smyrna store also would draw Delaware and Maryland customers from the privately held Bass Pro Shops chain, which has a mega-store in Arundel Mills, Md. Delaware's lack of a sales tax could further boost the attraction of a Smyrna store.

Cabela's mega-stores are so-called "destination stores" that, according to the company, draw people from a 250-mile radius. They're as much tourist attraction as retail store, featuring 50,000-gallon aquariums stocked with trout and arrays of stuffed trophy deer, elk and bears.

Most of the stores are larger than 150,000 square feet, and the largest cost about $70 million to build. The Hamburg store, the largest in the chain, is 250,000 square feet -- nearly six acres.

Cabela's even owns and operates its own bank, the Nebraska-chartered World's Foremost Bank, which services the company's Visa credit card business.

In addition to being known for its vast selection -- some of the 120 million catalogs it mails out annually are as thick as a Wilmington telephone directory -- Cabela's is known for extracting tax breaks or other concessions from the towns where it locates. That could be a topic of the talks between the company and Smyrna.

Cabela's also is known for being a "category killer," much like Wal-Mart. Its enormous sales volume enables it to sell sporting goods for prices that local businesses can't match.

Jon Burgess runs Eagle Eye Archery near Dover, where he sells and tunes bows used by hunters and archery enthusiasts.

"The buying power that the big company like Cabela's has will certainly affect the little shop, just based on the fact they can get things a lot cheaper," Burgess said.

However, Burgess said small operations like his might be able to succeed in Cabela's shadow by offering personalized service that a mega-store can't.

"Generally, when we're talking about big-box stores like Cabela's, or Kmart or Wal-Mart, for that matter, the specialized professional they have in the archery section of their store may not have as much knowledge on how to set up bows as someone who does it for a living," Burgess said. "That's where the specialized store like mine comes into play."

The personal touch was not enough to save small sporting-goods stores in the Hamburg area when Cabela's came to town, according to Deena Kershner, program manager of the Our Town Foundation, Hamburg's downtown revitalization group.

In addition, Hamburg businesses have found that few tourists make their way from Cabela's into the downtown business district. They come in on I-78, spend their money at Cabela's and then get back on the interstate.

"Hamburg does not gain anything from [Cabela's] being over there," Kershner said. "We can't seem to get the people in here. You can't even see downtown [from Cabela's]. They can get right back on the major highways to get home," Kershner said.

Smyrna could face a similar problem if Cabela's builds at Simons Corner. The Route 1 exit serving the site drops motorists at the south end of town, well removed from Main Street.

However, some visitors might spend the night at the new Best Western motel across the highway from Simons Corner, and restaurants in the vicinity also could benefit.

Although local merchants could face crushing competition, Delawareans accustomed to shopping from Cabela's catalogs or driving to Hamburg are welcoming the possibility that the chain will open a store here.

"As a sportsman and a loyal customer I could not be happier," said Drew Smith, a Wilmington resident and president of the DelMar Waterfowl Club. "They combine great prices and superior service, which is hard to find."

Smyrna's mayor, though, thinks Cabela's would be great for her town -- if the retailer indeed decides to make the move.

"I know something like that would bring a tremendous amount of resources to the town, and probably would be a real feather in our cap," Stombaugh said. "I can certainly see it fit in here."


http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs...EWS01/70824006

[Charkbait]

no worries from me, once I cross the bridge I'm mom and pop all the way...with the exception of some flats from KI on the longer trips, even then I make sure to stop and get terminal gear from Bev and Terry.

[Steve]

As much as anyone else, I like a good deal. But I also like the service and uniqueness of the little places. The Mayor is being a typical politician, thinking more taxes in her coffers.

The big box has the tendency to smother the little box, always has, always will. Hopefully the little folks will keep a select group that cherish the personalized service a little box can offer.

At least there will be more jobs for the locals. I wonder if their benefits are better than Wally World's....
I'm on the fence with this one.

[Charkbait]

I have a very simple thought on this:

If you do not buy at the Harbor Tackles of the world where you gonna get bait at 6:00 am? I know HT doesn't make much on bait due to the high cost of getting the high end well maintained stock they carry. Those shops need to make it up via tackle and gear which is where the big guys put the hurt on them via purchasing prowess.

So what if I pay $10 more for some gear, I'm dropping so much in gas, food, bait it gets petty at that point. The reports, service, and consistent flow of grade A bunkah make it well worth it. If not fresh will be a thing of the past.

I'm going so far as to stop asking for gear as gifts because my net savy family members save some huge coin buying on line but I'd rather put it where I think it should go...I mean, I'm going to buy it anyway...

[SteveZ]

If we keep on keepin' on like we have been we'll only have Cabela's & Wal-Mart...

[mdram]

the advantage is you can use it as a place to compare alot of stuff side by side hands on that the little stores dont have in stock.

but you then feel comfortable about having the small store order it for you, you dont have to spend a dime there. just use it like a research library

[Charkbait]

Originally Posted by SteveZ

If we keep on keepin' on like we have been we'll only have Cabela's & Wal-Mart...

SteveZ,

I'm 28 now, I can see a time when I will be ordering frozen bunker via the net before I hang up my sand spikes...a sad thought. Until then I'll do my best to keep it going.

Hell, the way we're going there won't be any bunker left anyhow, can't blame that on Bass Pro unless they are in Omega's pocket...a rant for another thread though...

[TOO EZ]

Oh Gawd guys..... Are you like this when they Announce the Newest Wal-Mart coming to town?????????

No! Don't answer that....

The mom and pop tackle shops like HT, Ricks, Lewes Harbor, etc..will ALWAYS have a place and don't see it Ever being Replaced by a Cabela's.

I LOVE going to Cabela's during the year - when I have the time - But, I still SPEND THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of Dollars (maybe even 10K per year) at the small bait & tackle shops I visit Each and Every time I go fishing.

Did you ever think about that Cabela's catalog that is sitting on your kitchen table OR next to the pooper that you read time and time again?? I'm certain it has an EFFECT on the small bait and Tackle shop Sales!

I do!

I think it actually HELPS them SELL more Tackle, Lures, Rods, Reels, etc... Cabela's is Spending the MILLIONS on advertising the products inside thier store when in FACT the small little tackle shop can get the same thing and REEPS the rewards from the Cabela's for advertising.

I think I've purchased 95% of my Cabela's earmarks from either Ricks B&T, Hook 'em and Cook 'em or Lewes Harbor.

So........ Go catch some fish!

[SteveZ]

Originally Posted by TOO EZ

Are you like this when they Announce the Newest Wal-Mart coming to town?????????

Yup. Hate Wal-Mart.