Cabela's Announces Sun Prairie Location (City of Sun Prairie Press Release)

Cabela’s has publicly announced their intention to build an 86,000 s.f. retail facility in the Prairie Lakes Development, located at the northeast corner of U.S. 151 and Grand Ave.  The store will open in Spring of 2015, and will employ approximately 200 employees.   Official plans have not been submitted, but the City anticipates this occurring in the next couple of months to ensure approvals in time to allow the store to break ground in the Spring of 2014.

Mayor John Murray released the following statement.  “We’re very excited that Cabela’s has announced a new store in Sun Prairie.   This national retailer makes Sun Prairie and Prairie Lakes even more of a destination for shoppers, but especially for sportsman and outdoor enthusiasts. We look forward to welcoming hunters, fisherman, and boaters from South Central Wisconsin as well as those who come to enjoy all that the outdoors in Wisconsin has to offer.”

Council President Mary Polenske also released a statement, saying “Our congratulations to both Cabela’s and Prairie Lakes on this announcement.  The City Council looks forward to this investment in our community, to continuing our partnership with the developer, and to working with Cabela’s to get their plans approved as fast as possible. ”

Neil Stechschulte, Director of Economic Development for the City of Sun Prairie stated “The fact that Cabela’s recognizes the quality of this site and wants to build a store in Sun Prairie sends a clear message to the national retail community that this one of the most desirable locations in the State of Wisconsin.  They will be a great user in a great development.  I want to acknowledge all the hard work that Prairie Lakes Development continues to put forward in attracting quality shopping opportunities to Sun Prairie, as well as the continued support of the Mayor and City Council for new projects in this area.”

From the Cabela’s Press Release:

Construction is scheduled to begin next year and Cabela’s anticipates a spring 2015 opening for the 86,000-square-foot store. It will be Cabela’s fourth store in Wisconsin, joining Prairie du Chien, Richfield and Green Bay. Also, the company operates a distribution center in Prairie du Chien.

The store will be located in the Prairie Lakes Shopping Center at Highway 151 and Grand Avenue. Prairie Development Ltd. is managing the development, which also includes Target, Costco and Woodman’s Market.

Cabela’s expects the store to employ approximately 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Most will come from Sun Prairie and the surrounding area.

The building will be built in Cabela’s next-generation layout, designed to surround customers in an outdoor-like experience with museum-quality wildlife displays. In addition to thousands of quality outdoor products, the store will include a large mountain replica, a Gun Library, Bargain Cave, Indoor Archery Range, Deli and Fudge Shop.

“Wisconsin has proven to be a Cabela’s kind of place,” Millner said. “We have a history of success in our Prairie du Chien, Richfield and Green Bay locations and we couldn’t be more excited to bring a store to Sun Prairie.”

Currently, Cabela’s operates 48 stores across North America with plans to open an additional 19 over the next two years.

The full Cabela's press release is available at: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131024005436/en/Cabela%E2%80%99s%C2%AE-Announces-Plans-Stores

Questions can be directed to:

Neil Stechschulte

Director of Economic Development
City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin USA
Email: nstechschulte@cityofsunprairie.com
Phone: (608) 825-1107
Web: http://www.cityofsunprairie.com/economic-development

Hunden Strategic Partners Completes Hotel Demand & Feasibility Study (City of Sun Prairie)

Hunden Strategic Partners has completed their Hotel Demand and Feasibility Study for the City of Sun Prairie.   The study evaluates several sites for a potential hotel development, and recommends a strongly branded 120-room select-service hotel, including approximately 6,900 square feet of function space.

Click here to read the full press release, and to download the executive summary of the report.

Blogger's Note: A new hotel of this caliber would be a welcome addition to the City of Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood.

Photo of the Day: Starbucks Coffee Ribbon Cutting in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood (City of Sun Prairie)

Sun Prairie Alderwoman Andrea Gage joined Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce President Sue Olson and Chamber Ambassador Mike Urben at the official ribbon cutting of the new Starbucks Coffee shop at the corner of Prairie Lakes Drive and Grand Avenue in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood.

Blogger's Note: Westside Neighborhood employers in the region can rejoice, as their employees can now get their coffee faster with this new drive thru.  QBE employees, stop in and say hello!

City Approves Expansion of TID #9 (City of Sun Prairie)

On August 20th, the City of Sun Prairie City Council approved a project plan amendment that included a boundary expansion for Tax Increment Finance District #9 in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood.   On August 28th, the Joint Review Board also approved the amdended District.  This mixed-use district was estblished in 2007 to help with land acquisition and infrastructure costs associated with the establishment of the St. Mary's Emergency Center.  The City retains three lots for sale in the original TIF District, but has not been able to come to an agreement with any prospective buyers to date.   The amended proejct plan allows the City to potentially participate in the attraction of significant users to the new area through direct incentives and to cover costs of additional new infrastructure.  It also injects a new revenue stream into the District to allow for the payment of current debt owned on the improvements already done with the former District boundary. This is critical, as the District has been decreasing in value since its creation. 

City Director of Economic Development Neil Stechschulte said "We are confident that this expansion of TID #9 positions the City to attract some special and unique businesses to our Westside Neighborhood Area.  We look forward to working with the developer to get some major projects approved and in the ground as soon as we can."

The District still needs to be certified by the Wisconsin Department to Revenue.  Additional questions can be sent to Neil Stechschulte at (608) 825-1107 or nstechschulte@cityofsunprairie.com.

Orange Leaf Yogurt Prepares for Opening in Prairie Lakes (Facebook)

Look who's sign is up in Prairie Lakes, and who already has a Facebook page!  Now hiring!

Orange Leaf Yogurt of Sun Prairie on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/OrangeLeaf.SP

Blogger's Note: I'm just glad its getting warm enough for frozen yogurt.

Poised for growth: Prairie Lakes developers still dreaming big in Sun Prairie (IBMadison.com)

“Where else can you go where you can drop off your application and have your approvals in six to seven weeks, and you can be in the ground if you have all your engineering done, etc., within two months?” asked Fedler. “That’s pretty amazing. I mean, Marcus was approved, I think it was seven weeks, and Costco might have taken a little bit longer because there were a few little tweaks to the buildings, but it was eight or nine. That’s a big deal.”  --Developer Chad Fedler

Click here to read the full article in In Business Magazine: http://www.ibmadison.com/In-Business-Madison/March-2013/Poised-for-growth-Prairie-Lakes-developers-still-dreaming-big-in-Sun-Prairie/index.php?cparticle=2&siarticle=1#artanc

For more information on Prairie Lakes, visit them online at: www.shopprairielakes.com

Blogger's Note: Watch for more good news about Prairie Lakes in 2013.  Could be a great year for both Prairie Lakes and the City of Sun Prairie!

Costco on November 22 Plan Commission Agenda (Sun Prairie Star)

Costco on November 22 Plan Commission Agenda

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=8875&TM=1900.056

Blogger's Note: The west side of Madison is looking less and less necessary all the time...

Costco Proposes Store in Sun Prairie (Madison.com)

Costco Proposes Store in Sun Prairie

Link to Full Article: http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_085174b6-059d-11e1-aa33-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

Blogger's Note: Thanks to Barry Adams at the Wisconsin State Journal for noticing we've got a lot going on out here in Sun Prairie.

Sun Prairie's Retail Market Continues Expansion

Costco Files Prairie Lakes Application (Sun Prairie Star) 

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=52&articleID=8657

Commission OK's Concept for New Sun Prairie Wal-Mart (Sun Prairie Star)

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=52&articleID=8649

Blogger's Note: 2012 is going to be a busy year for retail construction in Sun Prairie.  Add Woodman's to the mix, and we're looking at more than 500,000 s.f. coming on line next year.

Marcus Theatres Update (City of Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development)

As of March 29th, 2011, the status of this project is unchanged. Marcus Corporation owns their site in the Prairie Lakes development, and their zoning has been approved. Due in part to a slow economy, there has been no commitment to any timeline from Marcus officials as to when they may begin construction. However Bruce Olson, President of the Marcus Theatres Corporation has said "Please know that we are still very excited to build a terrific new prototype entertainment complex on our site in your city."

The City remains confident that Marcus will begin construction as soon as economic conditions permit them to do so. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Any questions can be directed to Neil Stechschulte, Economic Development Director at nstechschulte[at]cityofsunprairie.com or (608) 825-0894.

Photo of the Day: Madison Area Commercial Brokers Group Meets in Sun Prairie

About 45 area commercial brokers and Realtors from the Madison area Commercial Brokers Group (CBG) braved the cold temperatures and met in Sun Prairie today to hear from Matt Lang from the City of Madison on their zoning code update. The meeting was held at the City of Sun Prairie Westside Community Services Building on W. Main St.

Alan Sebranek and Mike Madden from the Bank of Sun Prairie sponsored and spoke about their available properties and their commercial lending services. Damon Root from Kwekel Companies briefly spoke about the Wisconsin Cheeseman building on Broadway Drive that is currently for sale. Neil Stechschulte stood in for Chad Fedler and briefly discussed the Prairie Lakes development. Neil also briefly discussed the availability of lots for sale in TIF 9 by St. Mary's as well as current redevelopment opportunities on Main Street.

Blogger's Note: We look forward to having CBG back in Sun Prairie again soon!