Cabela's set to rise in two months; real estate firm in negotiations for Parkside Town Centre

Prep work is underway at the new Cabela's site in Huntsville, with construction on the 80,000-square-foot superstore expected to start in a couple of months.

The Nebraska hunting, fishing and outdoor sports retailer won't host a groundbreaking ceremony, but still plans to launch at the property at Governors West Road this fall. Cabela's spokesman Nathan Borowski said an official opening date has not been announced.

The Huntsville store will feature Cabela's next-generation layout, a large mountain replica, wildlife displays, an indoor archery range and archery tech room, full-service boat shop, deli, gun library, bargain cave and fudge shop. It will be the first Cabela's store in Alabama.

"Every Cabela's store is different and the Huntsville store will feature murals and wildlife displays that are unique to the local area and the state of Alabama," Borowski said.

A Madison County judge recently rejected the City of Huntsville's request to dismiss a taxpayer lawsuit filed by Carl Fallin that alleges the city overpaid for land in luring Cabela's to Huntsville. Attitude LLC, the property's developer, is the subject of another lawsuit by developer Louis Breland, who wanted Cabela's for a Madison project.

Cabela's will anchor Parkside Town Center, an $80 million planned mixed-use development near Bridge Street Town Centre. The store will employ 180 full- and part-time workers when it opens later this year.

Borowski said some management positions may be filled by participants of Cabela's manager-in-training program. Other jobs will be posted on Cabela's website, which currently doesn't have any Huntsville openings.

The Shopping Center Group, an Atlanta-based retail real estate firm with an office in Huntsville, is marketing the remaining Parkside Town Centre, which has a population of 344,189 residents within 15 miles. Kathy Dennis, who handles leasing for the center, said they may be able to reveal new Parkside tenants in six to eight weeks.

"I do not have any information that can be disclosed at this time except that we are in negotiations with several national tenants," she said.

The Huntsville City Council in November hired Reed Contracting Services to three-lane Governors West between Old Madison Pike and the bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.

The $1.63 million contract also included a new traffic light at the entrance; repaving a bumpy stretch of Old Madison Pike in front of Bridge Street; and widening and extending a small road off Governors West that serves Hampton Inn & Suites, Home2 Suites and Covenant Classical School & Day Care.

That road will be renamed Cabela's Drive and become the main access point for Parkside Town Centre.

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