What Happened to Bass Pro?

[slabbandit]

Does anybody know what happened with the plan to build a Bass Pro Shop in North Little Rock? Are they still going to do it or not?

[dmbutler47]

They have been talking about that for years now. Last I heard it was not going to happen. I did hear something this week about turning the memphis pyramid into a bass pro, they dont use it as often now with the fedex forum there.

[fishingpox]

I'm pretty sure bass pro got the pyramid, supposedly hotel and such inside the place. there should be great access to the river to try out new boats and such, there is a canal right there by the property. will be interesting to see what happens, 35 million dollars still owed on the place, some wanted to turn it into a tax payers aquarium.

[sljames2]

the bass pro in little rock is still going to happen, they had some issues with the land but i think they are going forward with that project as of now; as for the pyramid, bass pro is looking at a late 2008, early 2009 opening. if all goes as planned, the pyramid store will be the largest store in the company

[dmbutler47]

I think it will take a miracle to get the one in Little Rock. It know they have been talking and talking and talking about it for over 5 years now. The bass pro at the pyramid will be awesome. there is so much they can do with it with all the river access right there!!! Too bad i am moving to Connecticut!!!

[ceb]

I can't imagine what they will be able to do with the pyramid. It should be awesome. Is the one for LR going to be on the river?

[dmbutler47]

If I remember right they were originally going to put it at the interchange across from the hige churck right before you get to LR from NLR. I could be wrong though. That land is marsh land or something like that and people raised a fuss. I am a betting man and I am willing to bet that there will not be one here for a long long time, especially since there is going to be one in memphis.

[randybenham]

I'm not sure about the firmness about bass pro coming to arkansas. 1st, bass pro wanted the state of arkansas to give the land, build the building before they would come in and open a store. 2nd, they wanted arkansas to give them tax breaks on top of this. Bass Pro would start making profits immediately. I would have to say that taxpayers wouldn't want to support this. if bass pro got that, then every buisness in arkansas would want to get the same tax break, and our state won't do that. I still don't understand why bass pro thinks they deserve those types of considerations just to put a store in the best fishing state in the country? What I've heard is that they justified it by saying that " they would bring in tourism revenue" to the state, and arkansas would have so much more money by having a shop in arkansas. Most of the small tackle stores wouldn't survive, and they are very opposed to this. I will say that i really like shopping at bass pro, even saw bill dance in memphis last week. but, i also believe that they should pay their fair share of taxes like us common folk.

My 2 cents.

[percher]

I searched the BPS website but couldn't find anything to confurm the BPS in Arkansas. I had read it somewhere but just couldn't find it. It's nice to have one in your town but I shop at Acadmey sports since they are about 20% cheaper. One other down side is the small guys in town have gone out of business or they are struggling to make it. Hard to find shinners or any live bait now. BPS emplyees can't give you the latest fishing reports either. It's the same way Walmart dives out the small guys and then you can only buy what Walmart sells. Below is a copy/paste if the release about the Mephis store. Seeya, Don


Bass Pro Shops® News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bass Pro Shops Coming to the Memphis Pyramid
February 24, 2006


Memphis, TN - February 24, 2006 -The Memphis Pyramid, one of America's best known icons, will now be home to Bass Pro Shops, one of America's best known outdoor retailers.



Millions of people used to come to the 32 story, stainless steel Pyramid to see basketball games and attend concerts. In the near future, millions will come again but this time they will enter the glass doors of the Pyramid and be greeted by a huge Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World retail store, restaurant, aquarium, waterfall, and other water features as well as a yet to be decided hotel and museum. Outside, plans are for a marina on the banks of the mighty Mississippi.



Preliminary design concepts are still being formulated but include the possibilities of reactivating the observation tower at the top of the Pyramid, utilization of the giant scoreboard for customers to view NASCAR coverage and outdoor videos, and an education/performance center that could be used for community events and concerts.



The project will be a regional destination with high entertainment features for everyone to enjoy and will create very significant public interest once again to this area of Memphis as well as the entire region. The Pyramid project should tentatively open some time in 2008.



"It is with considerable excitement that the City of Memphis looks forward to working with Bass Pro Shops as potential new tenants of the Pyramid," stated Mayor Willie W. Herenton. "Bass Pro Shops has an award winning concept and proven track record for excellence in providing a unique, educational and entertaining retail experience which will appeal not only to sports enthusiasts but will give tourist another reason to come to Memphis and our citizens another reason to enjoy our downtown area."



Bass Pro Shops unique, award-winning, outdoor stores are known for combining retail with entertainment, conservation and outdoor education.



"Bass Pro Shops is the perfect compliment to the business development we are experiencing in the downtown, uptown area," commented Robert Lipscomb, CFO, City of Memphis. "Our partnership with the highly respected and world renowned Bass Pro Shops ensures a strong foundation to expand our economic development to benefit the city and attract other businesses."



"This project will be to unlike anything we have ever done," stated Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale. "It is a tremendously exciting opportunity for our company and allows us to feature unique components not seen in any of our other stores while at the same time paying tribute to the wonderful outdoor heritage of this region."



Starting with just 8 feet of retail space in a small store in Springfield, Missouri back in 1971, Bass Pro Shops began by offering a selection of the latest gear from the fledgling bass tournament fishing trail. Today, the name Bass Pro Shops is world renown. Named the #1 outdoor retailer in America by Sporting Goods Business Magazine, the company has won numerous awards for their innovative store designs.



Bass Pro Shops stores are much more than just a retail store. The sights and sounds of the outdoors are brought indoors through museum-quality wildlife dioramas, huge murals and chandeliers depicting outdoor scenes, massive log and rock work, waterfalls, water features, and aquariums stocked with native fish species. The attention to the finest detail from wildlife tracks in the concrete, to wildlife carvings on logs and rafters is what helps add to the uniqueness of a Bass Pro Shops store.



A local theme can be felt throughout all Bass Pro Shops stores with use of artifacts and memorabilia from the area as well as historic photos of local outdoor enthusiasts that pay tribute to the great outdoor heritage of the region. Laser galleries, climbing walls, archery ranges, NASCAR shops and more add to the family entertainment.



The store will also include an expansive boat showroom featuring a complete selection of Tracker, Nitro and Tahoe boats built by Tracker Marine Group- the world's largest manufacturer of fishing boats.



Known as a very conservation-minded company, Bass Pro Shops provides major support to national and local organizations for their conservation projects and has received more awards for their conservation efforts than any other outdoor retailer in America.



Outdoor education is also a key component to Bass Pro Shops strong commitment to our natural resources and the sportsmen and sportswomen who enjoy them. Weekly free outdoor skills workshops are offered at all stores for kids, women, novice adults and families. It is also not unusual to see various groups, including Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, as well as school and church groups, and others on field trips to Bass Pro Shops stores to learn about the great outdoors in the comfort of the great indoors of Bass Pro Shops.



More than just a fishing and hunting store, Bass Pro Shops will also offer equipment and clothing for hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping, outdoor cooking and more. A gift and nature center will also serve up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.



Known for their great customer service, Bass Pro Shops is expected to hire approximately 300-400 passionate outdoor enthusiasts from the area. Employment information is available in the career opportunity's section of www.basspro.com.



About Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops, also a major catalog and Internet retailer, is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. They currently have 33 retail locations in 21 states and Canada with approximately 8 to 10 more locations scheduled to open by the end of this year. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit

[CastandBlast]

I watched the news tonight and they said BP still wanted to put in a L.R. store but it all depends on a court ruling about whether or not they can build on a 35 acre wetland site in N.L.R. It said the core of engineers had approved them building there but a environmental interest group was suing them for approving it.