Arkansas Location To Be First Bass Pro And Cabela?s Combination Store

by Tom Knighton: Last year, when Bass Pro Shops purchased their biggest competitor, Cabela's, it left a lot of us wondering just what would happen. How would the merger manifest itself in the long term?

Well, an Arkansas store may well be a glimpse at part of that future.

The 100,000-square-foot Cabela's in Rogers in Arkansas is currently undergoing a significant renovation to bring Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's and Tracker Boats together under one roof for the first time. The plans represent the first significant retail location upgrade since Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela's last fall.

"Rogers, Arkansas and the surrounding area is one of the best regions in the country for fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. We're very excited to unite these iconic American brands to better serve the area's many outdoor enthusiasts," said noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. "Our vision is to create the 'best-of-the-best' shopping experience that includes the superior products, outstanding customer service and exceptional value our customers have come to expect. At our newly expanded Rogers location, customers will discover the best of Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's and Tracker Boats all under one roof."

Customers will recognize the changes even before stepping inside, as new exterior signage will prominently highlight the iconic outdoor brands including Bass Pro Shops, a leader in fishing; Cabela's, a leader in hunting; and Tracker, producer of America's favorite fishing boats. A massive new two-story glass storefront to the right of the main entrance will flood natural light into the store and help highlight the newly expanded Boat Center and Marine and Fishing Centers.

... In addition to providing customers with more of the outdoor products they love, a team of talented artists and craftsmen are upgrading the store's imagery to reinforce its immersive outdoor theme. The signature creativity and attention to detail are hallmarks of every experience from Johnny Morris, who is often referred to as "The Walt Disney of the Outdoors" for his knack for creating amazing experiences that connect people with nature. Other popular amenities, including a cafe and fudge shop, will continue to offer customers the chance to take a break and enjoy a meal or snack during their visit.It remains to be seen if this will be the first of many stores, or whether these combination locations will be in only a few select locations.

Either way, it looks like these folks in Arkansas are going to have a golden opportunity here to enjoy three well-respected brands in the Outdoor industry.

This is the first glimpse of what the future of the two brands may be, but it's probably not the final glimpse of everything the new company has up its sleeve. While we're unsure of just what that might be at this moment, it seems very likely that not every store will be a combination location like Rogers' site.

It should be interesting to see what the company does going forward and how the two brands further integrate themselves. Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops are big names in their own right, so together, there are a whole lot of possibilities.
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Tom Knighton is a Navy veteran, a former newspaperman, a novelist, and a blogger at Bearing Arms. He lives with his family in Southwest Georgia.

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