- Owner Trout’s Fly Fishing – Tucker Ladd
Photo Courtesy Michael Gracie
The long-anticipated announcement that Cabela’s would build stores in the Denver market finally arrived a couple weeks ago. The “World’s Foremost Outfitter” has set in motion plans for two megastores—one in Thornton (90,000 square feet and another in Lone Tree (110,000 square feet). Both will open in 2013.
Yet not all specialty fly shop owners in the area see this as a harbinger of an impending retail apocalypse. This is from a press release from Tucker Ladd, owner of Trout’s Fly Fishing in Denver:
The recent announcement that Cabela’s would enter the Colorado Front Range market (see Denver Post article) has been creating significant amounts of worrisome debate amongst local fly fishing retailers and outfitters. Anglers, however, seem to feel the entrance of Cabela’s will create more choice for them, and that freedom means happier fishermen and fisherwomen. At least one established local retailer thinks that is a very good thing.
While many in our industry and sporting community may see this as a threat to the local retail base, Trout’s Fly Fishing sees this as a great opportunity to grow our sport,” said Trout’s Fly Fishing owner Tucker Ladd. “I for one welcome Cabela’s into the Denver angling community, and look forward to their support in the continued effort to expand what I think is the finest outdoor activity imaginable. We have seen this brand have positive effects in other markets, and we trust that they will bring legitimacy and recognition to the abundance of angling opportunities in Denver and the greater Colorado region.
With two stores slated to open in 2013 in the Denver area, it is a given that Cabela’s will have a noticeable presence to businesses and consumers alike. “It is up to each individual business to decide how to react in situations like these, and I can understand how some may be fearful of what this brand will do to the local fly shop base,” added Ladd. “Yet this is not the first time Cabela’s has looked at the Denver area for a new storefront, and we have been actively planning for this inevitable event for years now. We feel we have a strong brand presence in Colorado, and I am comfortable that the level of expertise, quality customer service and amazing product selection we offer will only further our goal of being a premier fly fishing resource in the area. Trout’s is a Denver and Colorado brand through and through, and we trust that this change will only make us stronger and more relevant to the local fly fishing consumer.
