I've been out in Hawaii for the past week so if this topic has been posted already sorry...

Was reading on that Oregon fishing site that there is now a sign up along I-5 in Chehalis that reads..Cabela's, Coming Soon.

Has anybody seen this or heard anything about it?? Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but I sure would love to see it!

Oh man that would be so cool

I'd personally like to see a Cabela's store here, although I think Chehalis would be an odd choice for loction. You'd think they would pick somewhere more urban, like someplace between Tacoma and Seattle. Not too many people from the north are going to drive all the way to Chehalis unless they're on their way to the big C. Their web site does not mention anything about any stores in Washington, so someone might be pullng your leg.

A friend of mind saw the same sign about 2 weeks ago! He said that it was right behind the DNR building off of exit 72. I was going to Chehalis last week and saw a lot of new land being developed in that same location (but I saw no sign off I-5). It must be just off Bishop Rd.!

I don't known if it is just going to be a warehouse, or if it will be open to the public for sales. There has been nothing in our local paper to tell what is going on. If anyone else knows, please share!

Cowlitzfisherman

Arklier,

I'd think Chehalis would be a good location because it would draw customers from both the Portland and Seattle metros.

However, as Silver Hilton pointed out in the thread on Ifish, having Cabela's here would mean we'd have to start paying taxes on catalog orders.

There was a post on steelheader that said it was a joke. It would be nice it it were true.

i emailed cabela's and they said that they are not building a store in washington at this time.

Arklier, actually Chehalis is EXACTLY the type of place that Cabela's would build their stores. I've been to several of them (even the original small Cabela's in the town of Sidney, not the newer store just off I-80). They always put them in rural areas to make them seem more rustic. They always design them as lodges, and rarely do you see a lodge in suburbia. Plus, if think of clientele, Chehalis would be a good neutral point. You'll have people travel from BC all the way down from N. CA. Good inbetween spot. I know when we go back to our family reunions in Imperial, NE, we travel out of our way to go up north to Sidney to make a stop at Cabela's. It's a straight shot from Denver airport to where my relatives are (SW corner of NE, right between Colorado and Kansas). We head do north just to turn around and come south.

I was curious when someone said it was an "outpost" store. Normally they go balls to the wall and make the super stores. Much better prilgrimges to super stores then an outpost. Probably a joke, but I had heard a few years ago that they had talked about a store in SW WA. No definite plans back then. All my family is from that area, so I get some inside scoops every now and then.

Chehalis has been a favorite spot for "joke signs" for the past few years. Before Cabela's there was Home Depot. Then before that, in town there was a Hooter's sign.

All the signs have been very professional looking and are quite convincing, but they're just gags--kind of a bummer; I don't have much going on and wouldn't mind wandering Home Depot and Cabela's before swinging by Hooters and grabbing a bite to eat--with my wife and kids of course.

Be careful for what you wish!!! With a store in Washington State the governor will have his 8.8% tax hand out for all Cabelas purchases no matter how they are entered into. Out of state is just fine thank you but that's my $.02.

RWB, I wouldn't mind at all. I've been in the Sidney Cabela's a thousand times. And it adds a certain atmosphere to your tackle shopping. There isn't a store ANYWHERE in this area that makes you truly want to STAY in there and shop. Makes Sportco look like a hole in the wall and low class. I know all about the sales tax they'd add. But, I do most of my shopping here anyways, so I wouldn't mind.

If you've shopped in one of these stores, you'll want one here. Hell, the bargain cave alone is worth having it here. But, Chehalis area would be a prime spot. But, knowing it, they'll put over in Grandview out near the grape orchards. Make it really remote. LOL.

I make a monthly to Chehalis for hay. Sure would be nice to have a pit stop once every so often...

Downriggin'

i dont think is going to happen but we sure do need a good sporting store in this state

I live about 5 miles from Sportco in Fife, and it's good enough for me. Their prices can't be beat, even if you don't have a memebership (membership only saves you 5%) and they have a lot more of a selection than most stores.

Ark, I hear ya. Sportco is a great store. But..... I have visited a couple of the Cabela's stores and Sportco pales in comparison.

I've never been to Cabela's retail stores, but I have seen pics of them in their catalogs. Sportco usually has better prices than the Cabela's magazine, though. If there was a Cabela's right next door, and I needed something I knew Sportco had, then I'd go there instead.

Arklier, say it this way, NO COMPARISON. Yes, if you need something bad, you'll drive close to get. But Cabela's stores carry a lower price usually on gear then you'll see in catalogs. I know I always get a deal, and I hate to make a comparison like this, but they have specials like Kmart's "blue light". They always have some sort of sale of the day. Usually good stuff too. Plus, they buy in MUCH bigger quanitites then Sportco, so can easily offer lower prices if they move here.

But, it's no comparison as UMrules said. Once you go into one, you'll see how small Sportco really is. And, Sportco isn't NEAR the store it originally was. I've been going to sportco since the 80's. My Dad graduated with the original owner. He had a little shop across from UPS that had a rollup door to access the shop everyday. It was strictly salmon/steelhead and hunting gear. It was very foculized and catered to our sports. Now it's too big for my tastes. It's like a supermarket. My problem is, they have started to add too much of the mamby pamby stuff. I kind of miss the old Sportco.

I've been going there for at least 10 years, and well, I don't miss the old Sportco. If you didn't fish for salmonids, then they had practically nothing for you. Do you know how hard it is to find Berkley Power Bait Crappie Nibbles in this state? Not something you can go to GI Joe's and get, but Sportco has 'em. Still, the fact of the matter is that Cabela's has stated that they are not building a store anywhere in this state, and considering that all of their stores are in the midwest, I'm not surprised that it turned out to be a hoax. Out of the stores in the local area, Sportco is by far the best. Unless you fly fish and are talking about specialty fly shops, the only competition comes from GI Joe's and places like Wal-Mart and Freddy's, all of which have higher prices and less selection.