New Cabelas in Post Falls ID

[Gussy]

We were in Spokane yesterday and the wife just heard about the new store opening. She wanted to go and I didn't object since its been at least 10 years since I was in one.

We were on the freeway towards the state line when road signs started appearing, congestion ahead???????? Turned off the free way and there were several roadside signs pointing the very round about way to get to the store. Kept passing congestion ahead signs.

Got to the store and it is nice as most of them are. Great displays. Gun library had some nice stuff, way overpriced as far as I was concerned. I did not buy anything but the wife found a shirt in the sale rack.

The longer we stayed the more crowded it got. It was pouring rain and really windy (you may have seen that in the news) as we left. That huge parking lot was now full and there was a steady stream of cars coming in.

The daughter said traffic was backed up on the freeway all weekend. That is some 3-4 miles from the store!! Not me, I would have driven by and went to sportsmans warehouse!!

[MT Gianni]

Doyou think Post Falls location won over Spokane's because of sales tax? I know the outlet stores there have been boom or bust. WA will forgive sales tax on MT & OR residences if oyu fill out a form but ID's is cheaper then WA's. Gianni

[Gussy]

MT, Don't think sales tax would have decided it since the seller doesn't pay it. Would give buyers a slight reason to save a buck or two, BUT.... We will never know what incentives were given to Cabelas by the state/town???? Lower property tax?? Low rent for a building built to their specs??? Usually something extra involved. Since Spokane is just a hop away it wasn't a problem. Lot more WA cars there than ID.

[Pilgrim]

The socialist state of Washington is NOT business friendly. Note that Boeing left after darn near 100 years in Seattle and I believe is doing more work at the Wichita plant instead of Seattle/Everett. The Sonics are on their way out and the the NBA commissioner isn't particularly interested in helping Seattle save the team. In fact, he has surmised that the anti-business attitude of Washington makes it not a good place to locate. I haven't noted any new businesses relocating in Seattle or the environs around Seattle. A few are relocating in my area of the state (Tri-Cities: Richland, Kennewick, Pasco) but I think that has more to do with the location making up for the lousy business climate. Lots of water, power, land, and skilled labor in this area. PhD's are pretty common. A college degree other than technical degrees will get you a job flipping burgers. There are lots of golf courses and fishing literally right out your front door, with skiing and hunting not a very long drive. Winters aren't particularly bad with very little snow. Summers are long and sometimes hot (occasionally 100+ for a month at time). Waterfowl hunting rivals anyplace in the lower 48. Geese are like fleas. Unfortunately, leases make hunting waterfowl a spendy proposition, unless you are willing to wait all night to get a blind in the public areas. I'm not willing to put in that level of effort despite loving waterfowl hunting. I stopped hunting them when the state put in their duck stamp. To the best of my knowledge, the state has not put back a single cent into the hunting or fishing despite fairly heavy taxes on boats, hunting, etc. License prices have gone up a fair amount, and the state has given away all of the boat launches on the Columbia and Snake Rivers to the various indian nations wanting them. They are available to the public ONLY when the tribes aren't using them. If the majority of my G'kids didn't live so close, I'd be out of here. Pilgrim

[pumpguy]

When Cabelas put up a store just outside of Omaha, the town of LaVista paid to pave the parking lot. Judging from the looks of the parking lot when I visit my folks, the sales tax collected makes the lot money well spent.