The sound of deer grunts and turkey calls will ring in the ears of customers as they enter Cabela’s beginning Thursday.
It’s all part of a menagerie of sounds and sights that makes the well-known outdoors chain “the Disneyland of retail,” said Jim Daugherty, the new Columbus location’s general manager.
“I really like when people walk in,” Daugherty said. “They stand there and their jaws drop and they have that 45 seconds of, ‘Awesome.’ It’s cool.”
When Cabela’s throws open the doors to its newest store at 11 a.m. Thursday, everyone from longtime fans to new customers will find everything that has made Cabela’s a celebrated retailer.
The new store has an indoor “mountain” festooned with a taxidermy display of such animals as polar bears, elk and coyotes; a large gun section dominated by the Gun Library containing antique and collectible rifles and pistols; an indoor archery range in which customers can try out some of the long bow and crossbow selection; a large aquarium stocked with local fish; and a deli featuring smoked bison, smoked elk and wild boar sandwiches as well as about 40 flavors of fudge.
There’s also a large array of fishing and camping gear; clothing and footwear, both for the hard-core outdoors enthusiast as well as fashion fan; and home goods such as lamps, candles and toys.
“We hope there’s something for every member of the family,” said spokesman Wes Remmer.