It was on the Spin page, I mentioned 3-pc travel TFO inshore rod, that I bought as a Cabelas branded rod - the closeout was 25% of the TFO retail, but even when Cabelas was selling it at retail, it was only 60% of the TFO price.
For me, Cabelas goes back to their rod-building and especially lure-building catalog roots. But I couldn't have outfitted kids in waders without them.
However, I just don't see Cabelas rods going away - they have a much better reputation than any tackle BPS ever branded (on corpusfishing bulletin board, their surf reels give Penn a run for their money).
Yes, the sundries will go away because inventory costs money. Just like most fly shops that have survived through today turned over their floor space that used to be for fly-tying and 3 times as many rod racks into women's apparel. Donny's leaders will disappear, as my favorite lure-building supplies disappeared 10 years ago.
Each retail outlet is going to survive on its own merits. Where they'll continue are at Outlet Malls, which seem to be where all retail outlets are focusing these days.
fwiw, Orvis outlets are popping up everywhere.
Be sure, they use their catalog sales statistics to decide where to put retail outlets.
I was clobbered when West Marine closed all their doors in San Antonio - a place to buy cordage, fittings, Boeshield, 303, Goop, fasteners, and window-shop for rigging ideas.
They don't get my catalog business anymore - I look for places with more cost-effective shipping options.
or extra effort - ordered the needed dock line replacement from Vela rigging supplies in Rockwall, TX (my old, cheap line had been pouring blue powder on the foredeck for 2 years from its 8-year UV exposure).
Paid cordage price and expected to get cordage and tie it in with a bowline knot. They sent it beautifully hand-spliced and seized without me asking.