"We have really done well in Michigan in the last 18 months and we don't have any large stores in the state," says Mark Baker, CEO for the Minnesota-based seller of hunting, camping and fishing equipment. "Frankly, we have been looking hard to find the right real estate in Michigan."
The new 80,000-sf store, will be 2.5 times larger than a typical Gander Mountain and will feature an Arctic Cat ATV sales and service area, a full archery technical shop, gunsmith shop, new cabin decor department and a Gander Lodge meeting area that can be used by community groups.
Gander Mountain, which operates 12 stores in Michigan, also plans to open a smaller store this year in Coldwater. Nationally, the chain runs 65 stores.
The company decided to renovate the former Kmart property rather than demolish the structure, which is tucked in the corner of West Oaks shopping center, across the street from Twelve Oaks Mall, according to Baker.
The store also is near Fountain Walk, which features a large Galyan's sporting goods store that opened in 2001.
Baker says Gander Mountain respects its competitors, but he emphasized that the retailer is the dominant supplier of equipment as it relates to the outdoor lifestyle. As such, the company doesn't participate in the sale of stick and ball or exercise equipment sales, he clarifies.
Gander Mountain's specialty areas ranked among the top six 2002 equipment sales when firearms/hunting spending reached $1.9 billion, camping $1.7 billion and fishing $1 billion.
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