Oct. 25, 2016 – Richfield, WI – The official sale of Cabela’s to Bass Pro Shop doesn’t close until 2017 but administrators and supervisors in Washington County are reviewing the contract with Cabela’s to make sure its loan is paid and the hiring practices agreed to are still in place for the store in Richfield.
“Cabela’s is being purchased by Bass Pro Shop and I have been working with the County Attorney’s Office on the impacts of this sale on the loan/agreement the County has with Cabela’s,” said Washington County Administrator Joshua Schoemann.
In 2005 Washington County Supervisors voted in favor of providing $4.5 million in funding so Cabela’s could be a 170,000-square-foot store on I41 and Highway 45 in Richfield. This was a 15-year agreement with a jobs clause that Cabela’s would employ 350 people, full and part time, and all would get benefits.
“The biggest issue for us was the amount of sales tax they produced,” said Schoemann. “The sales tax was supposed to pay off the loan we gave them.”
The loan to the county is reportedly down to $1.9 million in principle.
“We are working to establish communication with Cabela’s to discuss this potential opportunity and what our relationship might look like moving forward,” said Schoemann. “Special thanks to Brad Stern, Chris Ohlis and the entire County Attorney’s Office for their prompt and excellent work.”
Calls to Cabela’s were not returned.
