By Jonathan Farley
Special to the Leader
With a Cabela’s opening date scheduled for May 15, 2008, Gene Beaudoin of development company FELDCO Development Corp. headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. has his hands full not only trying to attract new tenants to The Gateway, but keeping the ones who have already made tentative commitments, pending Scarborough Town Planning Board approval.
According to Beaudoin, Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que and Cracker Barrel are facing some obstacles prior to the Spring opening of the 400,000 square-foot retail complex. Going before the Scarborough planning board, Famous Dave’s was asked if they could alter their plan from their traditional red roof to green, matching the other buildings in the Gateway retail complex, Beaudoin said. The request has been submitted to the home office in Minnesota and they are awaiting approval.
But the Lebanon, Tenn.-based Cracker Barrel restaurant is posing a different set of problems for FELDCO and the town. Cracker Barrel has expressed major concerns about how much signage they will be able to get facing the Maine Turnpike. Responding to concern that the lack of signage may be a deal-breaker for the national restaurant chain, Scarborough Town Manager Ron Owen has agreed to step in and mediate, by bringing in Terrance J. Dewan, & Associates, a Yarmouth consulting firm that works with developers and towns to plan commercial sites and buildings that are sensitive to the human and natural landscape. The firm has been involved with retail complexes such as the Yarmouth Marketplace and Freeport Crossing. That meeting is scheduled for Oct. 31.
“People don’t realize what a massive project this has been from the beginning and continues to be” Owen said. “There are always issues that come up that have to be resolved on both sides and require some creative thinking. Just working with Cabela’s to finalize their deal required us to think outside the box. It’s a challenge, but a good challenge and one that is a tremendous opportunity for the town and for everyone’s benefit.”
In addition to Famous Dave’s and Cracker Barrel, Beaudoin confirmed three local businesses have officially signed leases. Haven’s Candies, one of Maine’s oldest premium handcrafted candy companies, Freaky Bean, a popular and growing coffee company, and Henry VIII Sandwiches of Kennebunk have all signed formal leases with FELDCO. Speaking about Henry VIII, Beaudoin also mentioned that the Kennebunk sandwich eatery will be using The Gateway location as a flagship store for a potential franchise opportunity.
The Cabela’s site would be Haven’s fourth retail location in addition to its Portland, Windham and factory stores and Freaky Bean’s second location in Scarborough and nationwide.
Cabela’s, the world’s leader in hunting and fishing gear and related apparel and accessories, takes up the majority of the retail space which is located just off Exit 42 of the Maine Turnpike at Haigis Parkway.
“You’ve probably seen the building start to go up,” said Beaudoin. “We’re very excited to bring Cabela’s to Scarborough and are targeting May 15th, 2008 to be open.”
Besides the retail and restaurant providers, the complex also has plans for a hotel and function facility, and professional office space. Site owner New England Expedition Scarborough, LLC, which is affiliated with FELDCO, has estimated that the project should generate more than $100 million a year in retail sales and create about 800 new jobs.