Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY, has reportedly given Bass Pro shops 14 days to make a final decision on a proposed store within Buffalo's Canal Side project. In a letter to Bass Pro CEO Johnny Morris and President James Hagale, Higgins requested a decision on the draft lease that was sent to the company two months ago.
Higgins says local officials have secured public funding for the project and completed an environmental review of the site.
Higgins said he'll tell local officials to move ahead without Bass Pro if there's no deal by August.
ECHDC Chairman Jordan Levy earlier this year expressed confidence that a Bass Pro lease would be signed by August with construction beginning in the fall.
Buffalo officials want Bass Pro to build a store at the former site of Memorial Auditorium. Talks between the company and the public entity in charge of the $295 million project began five years ago. Lease negotiations began in April.
A Bass Pro spokesman said the company had no comment.
