By Danielle Braff and Michelle L. Quinn/Post-Tribune
HAMMOND — Get ready to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors indoors — Cabela’s is coming to Hammond.
Equity members of Woodmar Country Club voted 80-69 to accept an offer of $14 million for the country club from the Sidney, Neb.-based outdoor retailer during a vote held at the country club Thursday night. The vote was closed to the public.
Member Jim Dedelow, one of the owners of WJOB radio station in Hammond, confirmed the vote to the Post-Tribune.
Dave Draper, spokesman for Cabela’s, said the company is thrilled that this is over.
“We’re just happy we can put the sale behind us so we can work on details of the announcement.”
He said “we’re going to have some very busy people at their desks tomorrow.”
Although the company needs to formalize plans, Draper said Cabela’s could conceivably be in operation in Hammond in a year and a half.
Woodmar members previously had rejected an $11.5 million offer to sell the 90-acre property to the retailer in April. Before that, Cabela’s had offered Woodmar $7 million, then $10 million.
The vote came at a time when Cabela’s was preparing to widen the search for a place in which to settle, Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. said recently.
“If this offer is rejected, I don’t think Cabela’s will stay in Northwest Indiana,” he said. “Frankly, I never thought they’d go higher than $11.5 million.”
Meanwhile, neighbors of the country club expressed concern after the vote.
Some who live on Northcote Avenue popped in and out of their homes every half hour to see if the vote had been made.
They were hoping that Woodmar would stay. Amid rumors they would be forced to move if Cabela’s were to arrive and take too much space, the neighbors fretted when they heard the news.
“I wouldn’t mind Cabela’s, but what are they going to do to the rest of the property?” asked John Klebs, who lives across the street from the site. “I can’t afford to move.”
The Cabela’s store in Hammond will be part of the sporting good giant’s continued growth.
With 10 existing stores, fourmore in the works and one outlet, Cabela’s is set to continue a large-scale expansion for the next few years, Draper said.
The Hammond store will be one of the larger stores, at 225,000 square feet, and has the potential to inject at least $7 million into the region.
“With a store that size, we would employ about 400 people,” Draper said. “Nearly half of them are full-time and management positions, which would offer 401(k) and other benefits.”