Bass Pro Shops plans to open a new Outdoor World store in Victor, N.Y. The Bass Pro Shops retail attraction, approximately 145,000-square-feet in size, will be located at the intersection of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) and State Route 96. The new Bass Pro Shops store will be the primary anchor for Fishers Ridge, a 96-acre mixed use development. The store has a tentative opening date of 2016.
This will be the company’s third store in New York as they currently operate stores in Auburn and Utica. This will be the first large format store in the Empire State.
“Placing our new store at this highly visible location near the New York State Thruway will allow us to bring Bass Pro Shops low prices and famous friendly, expert service to better serve the region’s sportsmen, women as well as the many 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 New York.”
Centrally located between the Buffalo and Syracuse markets, Victor is part of the Rochester, N.Y. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which is the third largest metro area in New York. According to the 2010 census, the six-county area has a combined population of more than a million people. The state ranks third in overall participation in hunting and fishing with nearly two million people enjoying fishing and hunting. Located on the southern banks of Lake Ontario and at the western end of the Fingerlakes region, Victor provides an abundance of outdoor recreational areas. More than 90,000 vehicles will pass by the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store each day enroute to the area’s many outdoor opportunities.
“From the earliest stages of our vision for Fishers Ridge, we knew we were ideally positioned to attract best in class destination brands that entertain and excite visitors to the Finger Lakes Region,” said John DiMarco II, president of the DiMarco Group. “Bass Prop Shops is precisely the type of attraction that will exemplify our vision for Fishers Ridge.
“Bass Pro Shops founder, Johnny Morris, insists on first class in every aspect of their operations, they support national and local conservation efforts, generously give back to the community, and will be a catalyst for other business to join Fishers Ridge.”
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.
“Leading off the development of Fishers Ridge with such an outstanding, award-winning retailer as Bass Pro Shops sets the bar very high for what everyone can expect to see here,” said William Durdel, president of Baldwin Real Estate Corp. “This flagship store will feel more like a museum/art gallery and serve as a center for conservation education and family fun.
“Representing the DiMarco Group in lease negotiations with Bass Pro Shops was an absolute pleasure. From the top down, everyone in the Bass Pro Shops organization takes great pride in their professionalism and creativity, which will be very apparent in the outstanding experience they will provide at this location.”
The Ontario County Industrial Development Agency also applauds this investment in the community.
“On behalf of the Ontario County Industrial Development Agency, we look forward to working with the DiMarco Group in developing a public\private partnership that will facilitate the Fishers Ridge planned development,” said Mike Manikowski OCIDA executive director. “This transformative project will provide Ontario County and our region with a significant high-quality, mixed-use development of signature retail, hospitality, conference, high technology office and quality housing for our skilled workforce.
“We are excited to learn that Bass Pro Shops is planning a flagship Outdoor World store for Fishers Ridge. This flagship store will create high-quality permanent jobs, significant sales tax revenue and a tourism destination that will strengthen the county and regional economy.”
