Bass Pro plans to open a store in East Ridge, TN, near Chattanooga.
The location will will be located on Interstate 75 at Exit 1. It will be the primary anchor for the new Wolftever development. The new 85,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outpost store is slated to open in 2016.
This will be the company’s sixth store in Tennessee as they currently operate three stores in the state; while new locations are under construction at the Memphis Pyramid, and Bristol.
“Having the opportunity to build a super outdoor store directly fronting I-75 will allow us to bring Bass Pro Shops low prices and famous friendly, expert service to serve the many sportsmen, women as well as the visitors to this area each year,” said Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. “This retail attraction will be a tribute to the great sporting tradition and heritage of the region and a celebration of the sporting men and women of Tennessee.”
Nestled in the valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau, Chattanooga is surrounded by picturesque mountains and ridges. It’s the fourth largest city in Tennessee, and home to the University of Tennessee.
Chattanooga’s official nickname is the “Scenic City,” which is being reinforced by the city’s growing national reputation as a mecca for outdoor activities. With the Tennessee River flowing through the middle of town, and lakes such as Chickamauga and Nickajack, the area is a haven for hunting, fishing, boating, trail running, adventure racing, rock climbing, mountain biking and more. The area’s humid, subtropical climate makes it ideally suited for dense, lush trees of many species-thereby earning the title of a “Tree City, USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
More than 100,000 vehicles will pass by the new East Ridge Bass Pro Shops store each day enroute to the area’s many outdoor opportunities.
“We have been working very hard on this project for nearly four years, and we will continue to do so every day until we achieve our goal of developing a first class project that all of the citizens of East Ridge can be proud of,” said Matt Wood, co-owner and chief financial officer at Wolftever Development.
Nationally, Bass Pro Shops will host more than 116 million people visiting their 85 stores and marine centers across America and Canada this year. The average customer stays 2 ½ hours and drives an average distance of 50+ miles. Bass Pro Shops was named by Advertising Age magazine as one of the Top 10 Hottest Brands in America along with name brands such as Old Spice, M&M’s, iPad and Droid. Also, Bass Pro Shops has been recognized numerous times for their conservation and outdoor education efforts, as well as being recognized by J.D. Power & Associates for their customer service excellence.
“On behalf of the city of East Ridge, I certainly welcome the opportunity to work with Bass Pro Shops and the developers to make this project a reality,” said East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert. “We are always pleased to see economic development taking place in our city, but when it’s a company with the superior reputation and potential impact of Bass Pro Shops, it is especially significant. This is a home run for East Ridge.”
