By Stephanie Grinnell

Staff Writer

Part educational museum and part retail store, Cabela’s in Scarborough offered media a sneak peek into the store Wednesday. The store will open to the public May 15 at 5 p.m.

Several theme displays can be found throughout the store, including one focused on Africa, a 10,000 gallon aquarium with native fish species and the Cabela’s staple “Conservation Mountain,” where a variety of mammals and marine animals are posed as if engaging in real-life activities. 

Cabela’s Public Relations Manager John Castillo said the 125,000 square foot Scarborough store, Cabela’s 27^th location nationwide, is uniquely designed with Maine in mind. He said camping gear placed prominently in the front of the store was the result of surveys sent out to Mainers that came back indicating a love of camping. Castillo said no other Cabela’s has camping gear so close to the front of the store. 

“This store strongly represents Maine and Maine interests,” said Castillo said. 

He said each Cabela’s is different.

“There’s no cookie cutter format in our company,” Castillo said. “This is a retail store wrapped around a museum.”

Store Manager Dan Whitcher grew up in New Hampshire and has been trying to make his way back to the northeast region for a while, he said.

“I’m glad to be here, we have a beautiful store to give the town,” Whitcher said. 

He said 300 employees have been hired out of more than 1,300 applicants. He praised the employees’ work ethic and attributed being ahead of schedule in preparing the store for opening to that reason. 

Wandering through shelves and racks of clothing, some may be surprised by random animals throughout the store as well as murals, canoes and a plane suspended from the rafters between the fishing and archery section. There is a 10-yard-long archery range for people to test new sights inside the store as well.

For gun collectors, there is a gun library, where collectable, unique guns are displayed alongside hunting memorabilia. 

“It’s a great room because it constantly changes,” Castillo said. 

Castillo said Cabela’s is not just a place for “guys in flannel shirts,” and said the whole family can find something to do, whether it’s feeding time at the aquarium or families practicing their aim in the laser shooting gallery. 

He said a typical visit to Cabela’s lasts about three hours, so stores also feature a small café and fudge shop with hundreds of uniquely named varieties. Castillo said people typically travel more than 100 miles to come to the store, which is a benefit to all Scarborough businesses, he said. 

“It’s good for Cabela’s but also good for Scarborough,” he said.  

Cabela’s will open to the public at 5 p.m. May 15, Castillo said. Contact Stephanie Grinnell by calling 282-4337 ext. 213 or email news@scarboroughleader.com.