Wednesday
Nov202013
Colorado Front Range - the Gaza Strip of big box outdoor retail
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 12:05AM 
In addition to a couple of Front Range Cabela's locations and an existing Bass Pro Shop in Denver, a new 120K sq ft Bass Pro theme park store is set to open today in Colorado Springs.
How will this new big box effect the local specialty fly fishing retail waters?
LINK (via: The Gazette)
Reader Comments (4)
As a resident of the Denver area, I feel as though the city has been lacking a quality, specialized fly-fishing retail outlet for over a decade. While this is unfortunate, it seems to fit the pattern of all walks of outdoor retail in the area. Denver is a tourist destination. The economy thrives on outdoor tourism, because it is a place that people view as "wild." If you were to attempt to buy a pair of handmade skis, with a price tag similar to a high-end stick, you would be hard pressed to find a retailer that can afford to offer a selective product line. It is in the nature of the economy, and big box retailers have staked their claim. The local fly shop in the suburb of Denver that I live, simply can't afford to keep Sage, Loomis, Ross on the shelves, and it has been this way long before the recent opening of the new Cabelas and BPS. The most specialized fly fishing outlet that carries a quality stock is in Boulder, and beyond that we are talking Edwards and Vail. The specialized fly-shop is unfortunately a dwindling resource nationwide, and the Colorado example simply fits the patterns of globalization worldwide. Regrettably, these small firms are being pushed into the mountains, and we must not forget the outfitters that are simply trying to subsist. Unfortunately, this trend is not new anymore. On lighter note, the "Fly-Shop" sections of these stores are relatively ineffective, and the customer service is virtually unavailable. I hope that anglers will seek quality customer service as they invest in tackle, because the connection between a guide and a consumer is what makes our sport beautiful.
Two Cabelas, a Gander Mtn, and a Bass Pro Shops all within about a 30mi radius in Denver.... Yowza.
Support your local fly shop folks!
try blue quill angler in evergreen, kinney