Cabela's to build new store in Kalispell

Cabela’s is coming to the Flathead Valley.

Cabela’s Inc. on Thursday announced plans for a 42,000-square-foot retail store in north Kalispell, with construction slated to begin in spring 2013 and the store opening in fall 2013.

Cabela’s, founded in 1961, is one of the country’s best-known sellers of hunting, fishing and camping gear and related outdoor merchandise. 

“We spend a lot of time researching where our customers are,” Cabela’s spokesman Wes Remmer said from his office in Sidney, Neb. “We’re able to track them through catalog and Internet sales and we want to build retail stores where we have high concentrations of customers. 

“It’s usually where there are outdoor opportunities and people are passionate about the outdoors. Kalispell fits the bill.”

Cabela’s anticipates the store will employ about 75 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Remmer said the hiring will not start until a few months before opening and will mostly be local.

“We’ll be looking for people who are passionate about the outdoors and have an aptitude for customer service,” he said. “They will need to work hard and contribute to the team dynamic. We’re excited to bring jobs to the community.”

The store will be built in the Spring Prairie Center Phase III development north of Lowe’s on the west side of U.S. 93. Cabela’s will be the first store in that phase of Spring Prairie, which includes Lowe’s and Costco.

Spring Prairie is being developed by Goldberg Properties Inc.

Mark Goldberg, president of Goldberg Properties, said the Cabela’s store will be a great addition to Kalispell and a terrific anchor tenant for the north phase of Spring Prairie.

“It just fits perfectly with a lot of what people in Kalispell do in terms hunting and fishing and outdoor things.”

For more on this story, read Friday's Daily Inter Lake.