An outdoor retailer opening a store in Lafayette will try to fill the void left by a competitor. Gander Mountain’s grand opening is this weekend.
The store at the Lafayette Pavilions will be Gander Mountain’s sixth location in the state. Sportsman’s Warehouse occupied the space until 2009.
Kevin Nyberg is managing the operations.
"The issue with Sportsman's was more of a global thing for the company. They were based out West and put a lot of stores out East. They had some logistics issues, that really had nothing to do with Lafayette."
He says Gander Mountain has been in Indiana for more than 15 years. He says the Lafayette store will be a little different.
"This is our new concept store, called 'Gun World.' We've tested it several markets. It's been phenomenal. With Gander Mountain, that's our bread and butter."
The name is fitting when you see the rear wall and roughly half of one side wall lined with rifles and shotguns, with cases of handguns and accessories in front. This store also has an expanded women’s apparel section. Nyberg says merchandise available will reflect the season, such as fishing gear being scaled back in winter with more offered spring and summer.
He says getting this 50,000 square foot Gander Mountain up and running was fast.
"We broke a record building this store. We went from an empty store to a fully operating store in about eleven days."
Nyberg thinks one thing that was easy was hiring qualified people, because of the qualified pool of applicants in the area.
"Sometimes, that's the hardest thing to do for a new store, but my goodness, they were everywhere. We had a great mass hire. We hired 90 associates. The supervisors have been great."
Those interested in careers with Gander Mountain can explore current opportunities and submit an application online HERE.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski says it’s a great achievement to have the store be an anchor in that shopping center.
"To get that [storefront] filled up is really a big deal for us. But, on top of that, to get a store the quality of Gander Mountain, people are really excited. I've talked with people who say it's great for it to come to Lafayette."
Grand opening weekend events and appearances include:
Jennifer Brennan, star of the A&E Network series “Shipping Wars” will appear Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 3 p.m.
Elite Bassmaster pro angler and Gander Mountain pro-staffer Dean Rojas will appear Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Elite Bassmaster pro angler and Strike King pro-staffer Jonathon VanDam will appear Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
World champion walleye angler Mark Brumbaugh, a pro-staffer for Berkeley and Abu-Garcia, will appear Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The first 100 customers both Saturday and Sunday will receive a free $10 Gander Mountain gift card.
The first 250 customers to make a purchase both Saturday and Sunday will receive a free Gander Mountain hat.
Customers can register for a chance to win one of two $500 Gander Mountain gift cards.
