Cabelas Sneak Peek Reveals Store Definitely Worth a Visit

The finish line is in sight for Cabela’s Inc.

The Nebraska-based hunting, fishing and outdoor supplier will open its first Arkansas retail center and showroom — and 39th overall — at 9 a.m. Aug. 30, kicking off a grand opening celebration throughout the Labor Day weekend.

The company opened the doors to the media recently for a sneak peek and tour of the 100,000-SF store just off Interstate 540 near Target.

Cabela’s marketing manager Tracy Doty said the Rogers location would be the publicly traded company’s fifth retail center opened in 2012.

According to Investor’s Business Daily, the company’s profits rose 47 percent to 47 cents a share in the most recent quarter. Sales rose 12 percent to $627.3 million.

The store will employ about 200 people. One of them is former Rogers mayor John Sampier, who is the store’s lead fly fishing outfitter.

Cabela’s offers thousands of outdoor products, including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating and wildlife-watching gear. It also sells outdoor clothing and outdoor-themed gifts and furnishings.

As with other distinctive Cabela’s stores, the Rogers location is as much a sightseeing stop as a shopping destination.

There are hundreds of mounted trophy animals throughout the store — more than 400 to be exact, store manager Chris Comer said, including bears, elks, turkeys, ducks, wolves and mule deer.

There are two 8,000-gallon aquariums — one warmwater and the other coldwater — at the store’s back wall behind a large, mountainous wildlife display.

Visitors will also notice a wild boar-themed feature near the store entrance — an acknowledgment, of course, of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

A deli and cafe will offer several kinds of Cabela’s signature fudge, as well as sandwiches, soups and other menu items.

There are even wild game sandwiches available, with bison, elk and boar among the options.

The store also has a conference room, with space for 40 people, available for community meetings and activities.