Bass Pro Shops is putting the finishing touches on its St. Augustine store in preparation for the grand opening Nov. 20.
The event is scheduled 5-9 p.m. and includes musical performances, celebrities and giveaways.
The 100,000-square-foot store sells hunting, fishing and outdoor gear and sporting goods.
It is at 355 World Commerce Parkway on 18.11 acres, south of Buc-ee’s and Costco Wholesale. It is west of Interstate 95 at the International Golf Parkway exit, south of World Golf Village.
Regular store hours begin Nov. 21. They are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
General Manager Todd Blanchard said construction is 85% to 90% complete during a Nov. 14 media tour of the store. The majority of the remaining work is focused on the building’s exterior, including signage approved Oct. 17 by the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency.
Most of its stock is in, with a few remaining deliveries coming from a Macon, Georgia, distribution center where the store receives its merchandise, he said.
Blanchard has been with Bass Pro for 18 years and was previously general manager at stores in Daytona Beach, Orlando and Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh.
He said a tracker boat showroom is “down to the wire.”
Bass Pro Group, its parent company, owns White River Marine Group which manufactures and distributes the aluminum boats. During the holidays the showroom doubles as Santa’s Wonderland, an opportunity for families to receive a free photo with Santa Claus. It will open one week after the store opens.
The grand-opening event will include $100 and $500 gift card giveaways and a prize that’s a “mystery,” Blanchard said.
Location and jobs
Blanchard said the location was selected from three options, including Durbin Park about 13 miles north in the county and another he couldn’t recall.
Access to Interstate 95 was a major factor in considering locations.
He estimated the store will employ about 145 “outfitters.” There are remaining part-time and seasonal positions that are still being filled.
Traffic concerns
Blanchard said he is aware of the concerns area residents have regarding the congestion the store will bring and that it is working with St. Johns County to address them.
“Yes, we are working with the county and, in particular, the sheriff’s office to help mitigate traffic concerns ...to try to keep everybody moving at a gate pace, but a safe pace, as well, when it comes to us and grand-opening weekend,” he said.
Blanchard said the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office will help guide store traffic.
“It will be one lane in and one way out so we’re not having people fight against each other when it comes to left turns and right turns and all of that stuff,” he said. “They have a game plan.”
Evening for Conservation
An “Evening for Conservation” program starts at 6 p.m. Nov. 20, followed by a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m.
As part of the “Evening for Conservation,” Bass Pro Shops will donate 20% of every dollar spent to the local community and its affinity groups.
Blanchard said 10% of that will be directed to local conservation organizations and an additional 10% to state hurricane relief efforts.
Planned celebrities
In a Nov. 7 release, Bass Pro Shops said the opening would feature numerous celebrities including:
• Bill Dance, host of fishing TV shows including “Bill Dance Outdoors.”
• Jimmy Houston, a fixture on ESPN’s TV coverage of fishing and a National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Famer.
• Roland Martin, winner of 19 Bassmaster tournaments and nine B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year awards, and the first professional bass fisherman to be inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame, Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
• George Poveromo, national seminar and television host of “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing.”
• Darrell Gwynn, fishing tournament host and former Top Fuel drag racer and a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
• Diego Toiran, Florida Keys Charter Captain and host of “Pescando en los Cayos.”
• Ronnie Green, host of the Emmy Award-winning “A Fishing Story” television show.
• Eva Shockey, best-selling author, outdoor lifestyle blogger and co-host of “Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures” on the Outdoor Channel, alongside her father.
Opening announced in 2023
Bass Pro Shops announced in May 2023 that it was opening the store.
Bass Pro Shops bought the land May 30, 2023, from World Commerce Center LLP, led by Jacksonville-based Steinemann-Wolfe LLC. Bass Pro Outdoor World LLC, based in Springfield, Missouri, paid $8 million for the property.
RAA Design LLC of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Kinetic Design + Development LLC of Springfield were the project applicants and agents. Contineo Group LLC of Decatur, Georgia, was the civil engineer.
The St. Augustine location is the company’s 13th in Florida. According to the company website, Bass Pro Shops operates 174 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 when Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield.
