Cabela’s outdoor store won’t be coming to Colorado in the next two years, and plans beyond 2009 are not firm.
“As of today, we have no plans to open a store in Wheat Ridge in 2008 or in 2009,” Cabela’s spokesman John Castillo said Wednesday.
As for when the “retail destination showroom” might open southwest of Interstate 70 and Colorado 58, Castillo said Cabela’s is focusing on plans for the next two years.
Last week, Wheat Ridge officials understood there would be a one-year delay. At the time, Castillo said “uncertain economic conditions” forced the delay.
Wheat Ridge had estimated that it would receive a couple hundred thousand dollars in sales-tax revenues this year with Cabela’s original opening date of November.
The city estimated that sales-tax revenues in 2009 would jump to $1 million when Cabela’s 40-acre parcel and the adjacent 190-acre commercial site were developed.
The revenue loss “means we won’t be doing a lot of major capital projects,” said Wheat Ridge city manager Randy Young.
Still, money the city and Jefferson County have pumped into area road improvements is worth it, and development eventually will occur.
“The $10 million that we have put into completing the I-70/Colorado 58 interchange has been part of the county plan for a really long time,” said Kathy Hartman, chairwoman of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.
Wheat Ridge spent $2.45 million on widening Youngfield Street near the Cabela’s site.
“I understand Cabela’s has financial needs,” said Wheat Ridge Mayor Jerry DiTullio, “but the state of Colorado does not have a quick and efficient way to allocate money to support road projects to spur economic development, and it took too long for CDOT (the Colorado Department of Transportation) and the state to fund these public improvements.”
Castillo said Cabela’s “will continue to work very closely with Wheat Ridge to evaluate the opportunity. We will proceed with our expansion at a revised pace, based on the current economy.” Cabela’s has blamed a slowing national economy for pulling back on expansion plans. Last week, the company said it would whittle seven stores that were to open this year to just two, with two more in 2009.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
