Our look inside Cabela's
My visit to the Hoffman Estates Cabela's on Thursday lasted 3 hours, 26 minutes.
According to Cabela's Vice President Mike Callahan, that's about right. He says that the average customer spends 3½ hours per visit.
I was there for a media-only event, but the shopping public gets its chance today at 8 a.m., when the store has its grand opening at the Prairie Stone Business Park.
Officials estimate 4 million customers will flock there annually, and the village of Hoffman Estates is sinking a maximum $18 million into the project.
"Sears Centre opened a little less than a year ago, and we've been waiting out here for the next crown jewel to come along in what will be a wonderful entertainment district for the village of Hoffman Estates," Sears Centre Executive Director Jeff Bowen said.
Joanne McLeod, the village's first lady, proudly held up what's sure to be a big seller in the early days: a Cabela's T-shirt for $9.99 that reads "Hoffman Estates Est. 2007."
Hoffman Estates is the chain's 21st store and the first one in Illinois. A Hammond, Ind., store will open Oct. 4.
Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. has built 14 Cabela's -- this one took about seven months.
Building a Cabela's takes a deeper appreciation for the level of detail compared to other projects, as "normal" projects don't include 26-foot-tall mountains with a built-in aquarium.
"There's a lot of clear expectations right up front," said Thomas Roepke of Kraus-Anderson.
Elliott McDaniel lives in Schaumburg and works in the Gun Library, which sells and appraises collectable firearms. He showed me a Marlin Ballard rifle built in 1911 that's worth $49,999.
Most of those guns have never been fired, which devalues a gun by 20 percent instantly, McDaniel said.
A variety of World War II-era weapons, including Lugers and M-14s, are on display. Video gamers who play war games will recognize many guns in the arsenal.
Speaking of gamers, Cabela's doesn't forget them -- a "game shack" allows customers to try the store-brand hunting games. Cabela's also features a laser gun range where customers take aim at targets in a Wild West-style diorama.
The kiddies may enjoy pumping tokens into this one, but like Marty McFly, I preferred old-school Nintendo's "Wild Gunman."
Archery outfitter Tom Damianos gave me a crash course in bow hunting at the store's archery range.
I can happily report no one was harmed as I practiced with the Parker bow, which sells for about $400 in a package. But my accuracy wasn't close to the Green Arrow's or Hawkeye's. I'll stick to my day job.
My eyes widened at hunting gear from clothing manufacturer Under Armour, as the company heavily markets its football gear during NFL games on television. Under Armour uses the "click-clack" sound from football cleats in its commercials; that sound can't be useful while hunting animals.
Cabela's management prides itself on a variety of merchandise that it says would satisfy an assortment of hunters.
Testing that, we found a Goretex black and red plaid cap for $29.99 that would be perfect for Elmer Fudd to hunt "wabbits." The longest knife the store sells is 10 inches and costs $40. Not sure if "Crocodile Dundee's" Paul Hogan would call that a knife.
Meanwhile for $14.99, there's a pair of sunglasses that would make TV's "Hunter," played by actor Fred Dryer, feel incognito. Finally, a camouflage 18-ounce bullet bottle costing $19.99 could have held the proper beverage to quench the thirst of writer Hunter S. Thompson while he watched his Oakland Raiders.
My carnivorous self enjoyed looking at barbecue grills, smokers and smelling an overwhelming selection of jerky, but vegetarians will likely not find any joy here.
However, on a visit to the general store I met fudge makers Micki Ward of Elgin and Cheryl Novak of Streamwood, who spent the last week making 1,000 pounds of fudge. I'm assured none of the fudge contains meat.