Bass Pro Shops plans to open a new store in Sarasota County, FL. The Bass Pro Shops retail attraction will be located on the northeast quadrant of Interstate 75 and Fruitville Road. It will be the primary anchor for the new 260,000-square-foot, planned mixed-use Fruitville Commons development. The new 80,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outpost store is slated to open in 2016.
“Having owned the property for more than 30 years, we are extremely excited that Bass Pro Shops has chosen our site for the home of their latest complex. The concept of a Bass Pro Shops Outpost store is exactly what was envisioned when the mixed-use Fruitville Initiative was conceived,” said David Walters, trustee of the Walters’ Trust. “Bass Pro Shops record of conservation and care for the environment are uniquely suited to leverage the Celery Fields park and recreation area that Sarasota County has created. We look forward to working with Sarasota County, Johnny Morris and the Bass Pro Shops team in making this a special and unique place that all of Sarasota can be proud of.”
This will be the company’s 14th store in Florida as they currently operate nine stores in the state; while new locations have been announced in Tampa, Daytona, Jacksonville, and Gainesville.
“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. “It is an honor to be part of an exciting development such as Fruitville Commons and the history-rich Sarasota community. Our new Bass Pro Shops Outpost 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 Florida.”
The Bass Pro Shops Sarasota Outpost store will hire approximately 200 full- and part-time associates from the area.
“We are excited that Bass Pro Shops has officially announced their interest in coming to Sarasota County. They've built their brand by working with communities to create unique customer experiences. We look forward to hearing more about their plans,” said Tom Harmer, administrator for Sarasota County.
Bass Pro Shops operates 87 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 116 million people every year.
