OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - All the questions about Cabela’s future in its Western Nebraska hometown after its planned merger with rival Bass Pro Shops next year are taking a toll on the local economy.
Business owners in Sidney are having a difficult time since the sale was announced this fall, and property values have plummeted because so many homes are on the market in the town of roughly 7,000.
“Everybody is so on edge here, it’s unreal,” Wendy Pemberton, who owns Della’s Cafe in Sidney told the Omaha World-Herald (https://bit.ly/2hxZs50 ).
Bass Pro’s $4.5 billion deal to buy Cabela’s is expected to close sometime next year. The companies have said they plan to keep significant operations in Sidney, but it’s not clear how many of the roughly 2,000 jobs there will be lost when the headquarters moves to Bass Pro’s base in Springfield, Missouri.
More than 100 homes are for sale in Sidney and few buyers are interested, so property values have taken a hit.
Business has slowed at Dude’s Steakhouse and Brandin’ Iron Bar, according to the siblings who own it: Jennifer and Joey Gorman.
“A lot of people are afraid to do anything. Nobody has any certainty. That makes people not go out, not spend money,” said Jennifer Gorman, 37.
City officials say they are preparing for the future by drafting a study to tout Sidney’s strengths in the hope of attracting another company.
City leaders believe they are in a strong position because of the infrastructure and workforce they have in place for Cabela’s. But for so long, Sidney’s economic plans have been tied to the expectations that Cabela’s would continue to grow and thrive there.
Cabela’s new headquarters was just completed earlier this year. The city built a community pool and hospital at the time to keep up with the expected growth of the company.
Former mayor and current City Councilman Mark Nienhueser said local and state officials also plan to meet with Bass Pro officials soon to make a pitch for what Sidney and Nebraska have to offer.
“We’re going to put the best foot forward, for both the city and the state, in regards to what Bass Pro should keep. Certainly they’ll keep the corporate headquarters in Springfield, but it makes a lot of sense for them to continue having significant operations in Sidney,” Nienhueser said.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, https://www.omaha.com
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