Palm Bay Announces New Bass Pro Shop
By Space Coast Daily // January 10, 2013
Store Could Open This Summer
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The city of Palm Bay has announced that Bass Pro Shops will open its first Brevard County store, and its 10th in Florida, at 1450 Executive Circle N.E. in Palm Bay.
Palm Bay Public Information Officer Yvonne Martinez said the outdoor retailer known for its unparalleled selection of hunting, fishing and boating equipment and its peerless retail experience is scheduled to open this summer at the former Palm Bay Chevrolet site.
“The city of Palm Bay welcomes Bass Pro Shops to our community,” said Palm Bay mayor William Capote. “As one of the premier outdoor retailers in North America, Bass Pro Shops will strongly compliment Palm Bay’s fishing and boating venues as well as the variety of outdoor recreational opportunities in Brevard and Indian River Counties. Bass Pro Shops is routinely recognized for their environmental stewardship and they will be a great fit with Brevard County’s conservation initiatives, environmental education and outdoor recreation activities.”
The Springfield, Missouri-based company purchased and will renovate the 12.34-acre, 110,658-square-foot site that once housed a Builders Square and then an automobile dealership.
The building has been vacant since 2007.
The highly visible site, near Space Coast Harley-Davidson, is ideal for attracting Space Coast residents and those traveling on Interstate 95.
Martinez said renovations could begin within the next month with an aggressive hiring schedule of 120 employees in the second quarter of 2013 for a tentative opening date as soon as this coming summer.
“This project is important both because it creates more than 100 jobs and also elevates the Space Coast’s retail segment, creating a new destination point,” said Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast. “A healthy retail industry featuring the shops and businesses people want, adds to the Space Coast’s already strong quality of life and gives us another competitive advantage as we continue to seek economic opportunities across the county.”
Bass Pro Shops’ award-winning, outdoor stores are known for combining retail with entertainment, conservation and outdoor education while delivering unmatched value and service to customers. The average customer stays two-and-a-half hours and drives an average distance of more than 50 miles.
Unique exterior and interior motifs have branded Bass Pro Shops as a visually appealing, high-quality outdoor store. The outdoors feel is brought indoors through massive log and rock work, large indoor aquariums and water features stocked with native fish species as well as an extensive collection of museum quality fish and wildlife mounts. Historic photos and exhibits will pay tribute to Florida’s great outdoor heritage.
Bass Pro Shops has been working with Palm Bay officials, staff, and their attorneys from Shutts & Bowen LLP on this acquisition since April.
The project went in front of the Brevard County Commission on Nov. 27, receiving a 5-0 vote on a resolution that would support the company going through the measures to acquire a taxable private activity bond.
The site is located in the Palm Bay Central Interchange SMART Area (Sustainable Market and Reinvestment Target Area, a.k.a. “brownfield”) and will be able to take advantage of the Florida brownfield job tax credit, according to a resolution passed by the Palm Bay City Council on Sept. 6. Brevard Workforce also offered a job training grant for qualified employees should the company decide to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Partnering with community leaders to help redesign the economic landscape of Brevard is what Brevard Workforce does best. Teaming local talent with the jobs available is our passion,” said Lisa Rice, President of Brevard Workforce.
Bass Pro Shops currently operates 77 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada visited by more than 120 million people annually.
