Friday, August 29, 2014

Could Soon-to-Close Brandsmart in Buford Become A Cabela's?

Could big box retailer give way to a growing outdoors company? 

Hollywood, Florida-based BrandsMart USA will soon close its 118,000 square foot store on Buford Drive near the Mall of Georgia.  


Nebraska-based Cabela's entered Georgia earlier this year with a 42,000 square foot store in Augusta.  Earlier this month, Cabela's entered the the Atlanta market with a 100,000 square foot store in Acworth.  Plans call a 72,000 store to open in Fort Oglethorpe late next year.  


While modifications would obviously need to be made to the building, its existing size and surrounding amenities and demographics would seem to make it ideal.  

Aside from the building's proximity to Mall of Georgia, it's also a stone's throw from the 10,000 seat Coolray Field, home to the Gwinnett Braves.  The Gwinnett Braves are the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and often the place to see the next great player and also see rehabbing stars. Similar to the major league team, the Gwinnett Braves attracts fans from the southern region and not just the local area.  

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Cabela's closest competitor, has a location at Sugarloaf Mills. R.E.I. and Sports Authority both have  locations near Mall of Georgia while Dick's Sporting Goods has a location in Mall of Georgia.  

Readers of this site suggested that a Whole Foods Market would be a good replacement.  A Whole Foods seems great and all, but the idea that they would open in such a large space away from compatible co-tenants makes little sense. Additionally, there is basically no chance Whole Foods would take on that entire space in any city, let alone Buford. In case you have not been there, a Waffle House opened earlier this year in an outparcel of the BrandsMart and is only accessible through the retailer's parking lot.  I don't know that there is much crossover traffic between Waffle House and Whole Foods. 

What do you think makes the most sense to replace BrandsMart?   Is the space too big for a single replacement?  Are you a fan of Cabela's?

Please share your thoughts below.  

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree that this would be a perfect locale for Cabela's. I understand that these existing big box stores can be difficult to retrofit an to fit the needs of another big box. It is often cheaper to tear down and rebuild. Looks can be deceiving but IMO that BrandsMart building looks like a cheaply built.

I really don't get the obsession with Whole Foods. They are not going to build just anywhere and people often think that the can convince them otherwise. There is a Whole Foods in Suwannee, so it is highly doubtful Buford would get one.

Atlantan99 said...

@Anon, RE: Whole Foods,

Thanks for your thoughts on Cabela's and a possible retrofit.

I'm not sure what you may be thinking of but Suwannee has no Whole Foods, only The Fresh Market.

Thanks for your comments and readership.

Niel said...

The location is too close to Bass Pro Shops. Cabela’s wouldn’t get enough business to be profitable and Bass would lose so much business it would no longer be profitable.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully if Cabela's opens it won't take all of Bass Pro Shops business.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see a Cabela's or an REI open in Cumming. I feel like they would get a good bit of business from people travelling up 400 to the lake and the mountains. The North Point REI that is planned might stop them from doing it but Cabela's might be a better fit with their focus on fishing and hunting.

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