Cabela’s said more than 3,000 customers waited in line before streaming through the doors of its new 80,000-square-foot store in Charleston, WV, Thursday.



The store kicked off its weekend-long grand opening celebration with music, outdoor celebrities, family and youth activities, giveaways and more.


“The turnout of loyal Cabela’s customers was incredible, which shows just how passionate West Virginians are about the outdoors,” said Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner. “This was a big day, a huge success, and the best part is it’s only the beginning. We look forward to serving the sportsmen and women of Charleston for many years to come.”


Millner, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Mayor Danny Jones, along with other special guests, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in which Cabela’s Pro Staffer Tom Nelson shot the ribbon with a bow and arrow.
Doors then immediately opened for business.


It took about an hour for the entire line of customers to walk through the doors of the 80,000-square-foot store located along Highway 119 South in the Southridge shopping center area across from Home Depot and other retailers.


The store is Cabela’s second in West Virginia, joining the Wheeling location. It features thousands of quality outdoor products, more than 240 trophy animal mounts, a Bargain Cave, Gun Library, Deli, mountain replica and aquarium.


Thursday’s opener was just the beginning of a weekend-long celebration. Cabela's will host outdoor celebrities and hunting and fishing experts, including Nick Mundt and Travis “T-Bone” Turner of TV's “Bone Collector” and “Realtree Roadtrips,” Buck Knives Pro Staffer and Pro Angler Bill Lowen, Cabela's Pro Staffers Josh and Rachelle Hedrick, BASS Elite Series angler Jeremy Starks, Melissa Bachman of TV's “North American Hunter,” Cocoons Pro Staffer Ish Monroe and Lew's Pro Staffer Wally Marshall.


The company also will offer family events and youth activities, including archery shooting, fly tying, fly casting and a UPS NASCAR simulator, as well as a Laser Hunting Simulator provided by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.


Currently, Cabela’s operates 38 retail stores across the United States and Canada. The company will open retail locations in Rogers, Ark., and Union Gap, Wash., in 2012. It also has announced plans to open stores in Saginaw, Mich.; Grandville, Mich.; Louisville, Ky.; Columbus, Ohio; Green Bay, Wis.; Lone Tree, Colo.; and Thornton, Colo., in 2013. Cabela’s recently announced plans to open a store in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2014.