Indianapolis area getting next-generation Cabela’s

Outdoor retailer Cabela’s is bringing its smaller format, next-generation concept to the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville.

The store isn’t due to open until the fall of 2015 but Cabela’s tends to pre-announce store expansion plans well in advance of actual opening dates as its stores tend to be big news events in the communities where they are located.

Construction is expected to begin later this at Interstate 69 and Campus Parkway in the new Saxony Campus development adjacent to Hamilton Town Center.

“We hope outdoorsmen and women across Indiana are as excited as we are about this store, which will be extraordinary in every way,” said Cabela’s CEO Tommy Millner. “For years, thousands of Hoosiers have faithfully supported Cabela’s through our catalogs, website and neighboring retail locations. Now those loyal customers have a second Cabela’s store to call their own.”

The store will be built in Cabela’s next-generation layout the company says is designed to surround customers in a complete outdoor experience. The building’s exterior will reflect Cabela’s familiar architectural styling with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing. A large glass storefront will allow customers to view much of the store’s interior as they approach the building.

The interior will feature thousands of quality outdoor products, as well as museum-quality wildlife displays, a mountain with a built-in aquarium, gun library, bargain cave, indoor archery range and archery tech room, fudge shop and deli.

What earns the store its next generation distinction is the fact that it is substantially smaller than earlier verison’s of Cabela’s stores. For example, when Cabela’s first arrived in Indiana in 2007 it was with a massive 185,000-sq.-ft. store in the northern Indiana town of Hammond, located west of Gary and south of Chicago. The new store near Indianapolis will be nearly 100,000 square feet smaller which allows the company to enter small markets and operate profitably on lower sales volumes.

Currently, Cabela’s operates 51 stores across North America and has announced plans to open an additional 23 over the next two years.