OT- Cabellas & The Outlets at The Rent?

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Did anyone see the news yesterday that Cabellas got bought out by Bass Pro Shops? Pretty interesting- hope that means that both stores will stay open in CT and we don't lose Cabellas at Rentschler Field.

Speaking of stores at The Rent, does anyone know what the status of the new Outlet shopping mall project is? I thought they were supossed to break ground this spring- and nothing. I know there is a large sign out by the UTC entrance on Silver Lane off 84 where you go into Cabellas. Anyone have any intel or insight on the project?

 

[auggie22]

No intel per se, but I speculate that the development is just about dead... They were fishing for tax credits, or financing from a quasi public agency in order to commit. That it has not broken ground yet is a good indication that no such financing is forthcoming.

 

[Pudge]

The Outlet industry is far past its prime. The idea was dead at the time we heard it; and the Town probably was justified in not throwing infrastructure or subsidizing the development plan. There are several large Mixed Use project that moving forward in Connecticut. I think they probably have sucked up the Institutional tenancy that would anchor this location. At some point ... that land is very valuable. My guess is that the CT developer just isn't that good.

 

[zls44]

The Outlet industry is far past its prime. The idea was dead at the time we heard it; and the Town probably was justified in not throwing infrastructure or subsidizing the development plan. There are several large Mixed Use project that moving forward in Connecticut. I think they probably have sucked up the Institutional tenancy that would anchor this location. At some point ... that land is very valuable. My guess is that the CT developer just isn't that good.

Maybe they suck at building baseball stadiums too.

 

[uconntailgater]

I was just at Cabela's a few hours ago and didn't notice any outlet construction. I did see what appeared to be construction going on over at P & W. Evergreen walkway is just a few miles down the road and of course Westfarms mall is on the other side of the river. It's hard to imagine investors wanting to spend money on a project like this?

 

[Northbound]

Those in the outdoor business have heard rumors of this for a whole. Cabela's got a bit too aggressive on retail expansion (those aren't small stores) and never properly invested in online until way late in the game.

In the early 2000's the folks in Springfield, MO were really concerned about Cabela's "ownership" of the hunting part of the outdoor market and were working to sort out how their private label brands fix into their branded offerings

Funny how things change.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I was just at Cabela's a few hours ago and didn't notice any outlet construction. I did see what appeared to be construction going on over at P & W. Evergreen walkway is just a few miles down the road and of course Westfarms mall is on the other side of the river. It's hard to imagine investors wanting to spend money on a project like this?

And Buckland Hills plus everything in Glastonbury within a 10 mile radius. People in CT come to East Hartford 6-7 times a year and it will be tough to change that. Unless they're banking on Pratt workers going after work?

 

[06029]

There were 3 competing outlet projects announced almost at the same time and all 3 are stalled. No one is financing them since CT has 2 already, a third in Lenox and there was Zero demand drivers at any of the 3 locations.

I have heard some rumblings of an alternate project for the site that will involve apartments, retail/entertainment and office/R & D space plus a good hotel. The concept is that it will be a natural stop/augmentation of the corridor/planned busway from Uconn Storrs to Uconn Hartford as well as keeping the relationship with P & W/UT alive and well with incubator space for the next wave of tech/jet revolution. Think Blue Back Square with tech/R & D and a lower price point to make it attractive to recent grads, walkable entertainment/dining and creating a whole new face for East Hartford (which needs it).

As I said, just the rumblings of a concept at this point.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

There were 3 competing outlet projects announced almost at the same time and all 3 are stalled. No one is financing them since CT has 2 already, a third in Lenox and there was Zero demand drivers at any of the 3 locations.

I have heard some rumblings of an alternate project for the site that will involve apartments, retail/entertainment and office/R & D space plus a good hotel. The concept is that it will be a natural stop/augmentation of the corridor/planned busway from Uconn Storrs to Uconn Hartford as well as keeping the relationship with P & W/UT alive and well with incubator space for the next wave of tech/jet revolution. Think Blue Back Square with tech/R & D and a lower price point to make it attractive to recent grads, walkable entertainment/dining and creating a whole new face for East Hartford (which needs it).

As I said, just the rumblings of a concept at this point.

Most people associate EH with the area around the Rent and Burnside Ave. The majority of the town is actually a nice suburban area with quaint neighborhoods bordering two great towns in Glastonbury and South Windsor. A "safe" "downtown" area would be great.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Really hope that sometime in our lives we see a legit build up out at The Rent site. Caballa's was a one-off, and works. Why not add a hotel (which we need more of), and develop a small entertainment/dining/light retail district surrounding the stadium. Use the idea of UConn Football and the stadium as the focal point for attacting folks to come. Imagine gathering on away game days there? Or off-season events. Have a really good large-scale fan shop there. A couple of restaurants/bars. Call it "HuskyTown" maybe? Wonder if maybe they could get one of the local breweries to move there too- Hooker?

 

[BlueandOG]

I live outside of Boston. In Dedham, there was an old, underused Showcase Cinema. They tore it down and built a huge outdoor mall called Legacy Place with a mix of high and low end shops (LL Bean, Apple, Whole Foods, Claire's etc), restaurants, and entertainment (movie theater and bowling). The place is packed all the time, every day. About 8 miles down the road is Patriot Place, which is similar and surrounding Gillette Stadium. Also usually packed, although not as nice or big as Legacy Place. Recently, they opened University Station in Westwood, about 7 miles from the other two. Similar structure, also packed. Legacy Place and University Station also have residential components.

This idea works. If they make a mixed use, high- and middle range stores, restaurants, and entertainment, people will visit East Hartford.

 

[MattMang23]

Imagine gathering on away game days there?

We don't gather there on home game days. Why would anyone gather there on away game days?

 

[Jarhead_1775]

The last rumor I heard was they "broke ground" last winter before the year was up to be able to say they actually are building. In reality all they did was move some dirt around. They were searching for some grant money and had to have ground broken already. Last I heard was that the money came through and they'd be starting soon. Latest is that it went to town council last night for approval and actual construction should start soon. I'll keep digging (ha!) and see what else I can come up with.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

Town council meeting is tonight. If you happen to be that interested, it's broadcast on the local channel.

 

[06029]

Town council meeting is tonight. If you happen to be that interested, it's broadcast on the local channel.

Dunkin Donuts Stadium part II.

There is nothing sadder than a brand spanking new retail center that has no traffic. Every tenant will have an out clause and the property will be dead in 10 years.

I hope EH is not giving away tax breaks on this.

On the flip side, getting infrastructure in there today to support some future use does not hurt.

 

[Woof 101]

Really hope that sometime in our lives we see a legit build up out at The Rent site. Caballa's was a one-off, and works. Why not add a hotel (which we need more of), and develop a small entertainment/dining/light retail district surrounding the stadium. Use the idea of UConn Football and the stadium as the focal point for attacting folks to come. Imagine gathering on away game days there? Or off-season events. Have a really good large-scale fan shop there. A couple of restaurants/bars. Call it "HuskyTown" maybe? Wonder if maybe they could get one of the local breweries to move there too- Hooker?

No attack here Sons, but your comment of "Really hope that sometime in our lives" has me hoping you are very young. I don't see it in mine. Our capitol just across the river is a ghost town unless the XL or Meadows has something going.
JC used to have a restaurant downtown, Geno used to have the same no longer. The casinos now have what the cities used to have. CT has a professional woman's basketball team that plays out of a casino rather than in the capitol. Not bashing Geno as I like him but his seminars that used to be held in Hartford are all at the casinos now. The state of our state is not quite what one would call rosy right now. Not trying to be an energy vampire but where would one find the demand for a large-scale fan shop? Amazon will be dropping off your new jersey with a drone in three years. Again no attack but this is something of the Whalers fans still waiting, reality not part of the equation.

 

[UCONNJACK]

No attack here Sons, but your comment of "Really hope that sometime in our lives" has me hoping you are very young. I don't see it in mine. Our capitol just across the river is a ghost town unless the XL or Meadows has something going.
JC used to have a restaurant downtown, Geno used to have the same no longer. The casinos now have what the cities used to have. CT has a professional woman's basketball team that plays out of a casino rather than in the capitol. Not bashing Geno as I like him but his seminars that used to be held in Hartford are all at the casinos now. The state of our state is not quite what one would call rosy right now. Not trying to be an energy vampire but where would one find the demand for a large-scale fan shop? Amazon will be dropping off your new jersey with a drone in three years. Again no attack but this is something of the Whalers fans still waiting, reality not part of the equation.

I don't recall Geno ever having a restaurant in Hartford.

 

[huskypantz]

I live outside of Boston. In Dedham, there was an old, underused Showcase Cinema. They tore it down and built a huge outdoor mall called Legacy Place with a mix of high and low end shops (LL Bean, Apple, Whole Foods, Claire's etc), restaurants, and entertainment (movie theater and bowling). The place is packed all the time, every day. About 8 miles down the road is Patriot Place, which is similar and surrounding Gillette Stadium. Also usually packed, although not as nice or big as Legacy Place. Recently, they opened University Station in Westwood, about 7 miles from the other two. Similar structure, also packed. Legacy Place and University Station also have residential components.

This idea works. If they make a mixed use, high- and middle range stores, restaurants, and entertainment, people will visit East Hartford.

I work in Westwood between Legacy Place and University Station. I was over at Patriots Place on Monday for lunch. They each have their own flavor. The biggest difference is that their demographics are more West Hartford-ish than East Hartford-ish. Two of them are next to train stations (I don't count the stadium station). Ironically, Legacy Place and University Station are very close - only 3-4 miles apart, but the area is relatively densely populated. I think that the Rent could eventually be transformed, but it's going to take some solid planning and I'm guessing destination anchors to get people to go there from the neighboring towns. I would prefer to see mid to high end, but I don't know if the demographics would work. Definitely need to push the residential angle to get that live-work-play feel.

 

[superjohn]

Those in the outdoor business have heard rumors of this for a whole. Cabela's got a bit too aggressive on retail expansion (those aren't small stores) and never properly invested in online until way late in the game.

In the early 2000's the folks in Springfield, MO were really concerned about Cabela's "ownership" of the hunting part of the outdoor market and were working to sort out how their private label brands fix into their branded offerings

Funny how things change.

Does anyone actually buy stuff at a store like Cabela's? It seems like a place to walk around for an hour or two looking at the cool stuff and then go home hop online an buy what you want for cheaper.

 

[Northbound]

People do buy things there - it's not expensive. They have expensive things, but hats not their core business. It's a big box in a vertical.

I bought $3000+ shotgun there, well in their kck store from their gun library and that was a used gun. I was doing a deal with them and bought a pair of Chippewa engineer boots there in their Sidney store. Hell I had clients that everytime we did a shoot anywhere near a Cabela's or bps we'd have to make a run to that place and he'd easily drop $200+ on baits. Everytime I went to one I'd buy something - turkey call, Cano hat, shells, etc.

So yeah people do and they are for sure a destination retailer, but not as much as it once was when there weren't so many stores.

Sorry for the long answer.

 

[Buffett10]

And Buckland Hills plus everything in Glastonbury within a 10 mile radius. People in CT come to East Hartford 6-7 times a year and it will be tough to change that. Unless they're banking on Pratt workers going after work?

I live in Glastonbury. Please humor me with what is in Glastonbury? East Hartford has more.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I live in Glastonbury. Please humor me with what is in Glastonbury? East Hartford has more.

You'd rather hang out at the vacant Super Pets Plaza than Somerset Square?

 

[John]

Does anyone actually buy stuff at a store like Cabela's? It seems like a place to walk around for an hour or two looking at the cool stuff and then go home hop online an buy what you want for cheaper.

I can't get out of there without buying something.

 

[Woof 101]

I don't recall Geno ever having a restaurant in Hartford.

I stand corrected. Seminars talks etc have gone from Hartford to the casino...Brain foof on my part...