Tommy Battle Will Not Run For Governor

Mayor Tommy Battle. (File)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Huntsville city leaders will gather this afternoon to announce a "major" new regional retail development to be anchored by Cabela's.

Map provided by Mayor Tommy Battle showing where the new Cabela's-anchored retail development will be in Huntsville.

Earlier today, the hunting, fishing and outdoor gear retailer said it will begin construction this fall on a new 80,000-square-foot store at the planned Parkside Town Centre development near the intersection of Interstate 565 and 255 at Governors West Road.

The development near Hampton Inn & Suites will employ up to 180 associates when the store opens in fall 2015.

"We are excited to announce this new development in Huntsville," Battle said in a statement. "Huntsville continues to be a strong market for retail and this venue is something the citizens of Huntsville have requested numerous times."

Battle told AL.com infrastructure incentives offered to Cabela's will be discussed at today's media event. The conference will also shed light on Huntsville's recent retail boom, including a new $50 million Whole Foods-anchored development and $20 million Belk at Bridge Street Town Centre.

The press conference will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Huntsville City Hall. Click here for more details about the new Cabela's store in Huntsville.

Nathan Borowski, a communications specialist for Cabela's in Nebraska, wouldn't disclose incentive details for "competitive reasons." Borowski said the retailer has been eyeing Alabama for a while and selected Huntsville because of its proximity to other Cabela's customers.

"We knew it was a state we needed to get a store in," he said. "Huntsville is such a great market. There are already so many outdoor opportunities in the area ... You name it, the Huntsville area has it."

The retailer is also expanding with new locations in Oklahoma City and Woodbury, N.Y. The 53-year-old company has 56 stores across North America and will open 21 additional stores during the next two years.

Cabela's, which has been in the catalog business for more than 50 years, is confident it will expand its customer reach because a strong client base already exists in the Huntsville area.

Send Lucy Berry an email at lberry@al.com.