Location, location, location...and store performance.
For a specialty buge box store like that you need a huge population base to support sales at sufficient level to turn the lights on and generate a profit.
The closest cabelas to me is about an hour away. Scheels is 15 minutes away. I go to scheels for fishing stuff and ammo. I order trapping stuff from the Cavens folks in MN. I actually save on ordering from them vs buying at box store markup. I'm not much of a cabelas shopping base but only because I dont make it up to Omaha often. When I do go up there, I like going to cabelas it's a cool guy place to walk around in. But I dont usually buy much there. The lot is always full when I do go so others must be a better shopping population base than I am.
Thats just how big box stores make it or dont make it. Sales performance and a targeted population center.
When the merger occurred and headquarters were closed, it was in my opinion just a matter of time before Sydney retail closed too.
Jury is still out whether cabelas in Omaha vs bass pro shops just across river a short 20 minute drive to east both remain open. I see one of those two going away someday. But maybe not, too. Lots of population in that area and both just off the interstate.
It's all about the sales...

Now...what's Sydney going to do with that big old lot and retail space once vacated? That's a real challenge ahead. I'm not sure who will buy that, but they might get it for a song.

Jim

I've heard that BassPro has generously offered space in the empty headquarters office building to locals trying to keep their head above water.

I have not heard of this happening. Do you have a link to verify what you say?

they were all old ,there kids did not want any thing to do with it , they were already rich

Great post Jim. It is unfortunate Cabelas is no longer around. But in a free market world some stores start up and thrive, some do great for a long time, and some just get into trouble..... be it by bad management or just a changing situation in regard for their product. That's the way it is in an ever changing world. I am sure it was bad for some when the automobile came on the scene. Horse breeders and harness makers could not survive. Jobs were lost. But people woke up the next day and pulled their boots on and figured out how to survive. Many thrived again doing something else. Seems like history repeats all the time. The wise man..... rather than fight to hang on to the past..... figures out a way to go on into the future. Lots of thing ain't fair in this world. One should ask "is it productive to hang on a past were it just didn't work"? Cabelas is gone..... Bass Pro has to survive. They are doing what they feel is the right way. Don't like it..... do what you have to do, but respect the other man's choice.

For the record, I was making a funny.

Oh...in that case...never mind...