Bass Pro Shops opening in St. Johns County

[NotNow]

It will do well here, no matter what side of the county line it is on.  This is an "outdoor" market.

[Tacachale]

I'm sure it will, which is another reason I see no call to give them incentives to open up here.

[tufsu1]

I am confused, the 9B/I-95 interchange won't have any access to local streets - so building a store "at" the interchange makes no sense to me.  Perhaps, as part of their incentives, St. Johns County is going to extend 9B down to Racetrack Road?

Well there is a PD&E study underway for that segment

[Charles Hunter]

I blame the confusion on local "news" outlets publishing company press releases without checking up on them ... asking just "where" the new store will be.  I really don't expect the local "news" readers to even understand they should also ask "why" (there and not somewhere else), "who" is providing incentives, and "how" much are they? ... OK, "what" is the new store.

Alright, by my participation here, is evidence I'm a transportation and planning junkie ... but would the local media have printed without question that a new store was going to be built at the "I-10 / I-95 interchange" without asking just 'where' they meant?  (Sadly, no, I don't think they would ...    )

So St. Johns County gets the added property and sales taxes ... unless they've incentivized it away.

I sure hope the new store isn't going into the path identified - but not yet purchased - for the 9B extension into St. Johns.

[tufsu1]

actually I kind of hope it is...the 9B extension is a terrible idea (even worse than 9B itself)...would have made more sense to get an interchange at Racetrack Road

[British Shoe Company]

 ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- Hundreds of new jobs and a new holiday shopping destination are in the works for northern St. Johns County.

Bass Pro Shops announced Friday that it will open a 104,000 square foot store off of proposed new highway 9-B to serve the Jacksonville area.

Bass Pro Shops is known for its sports and outdoor equipment.

The store will be situated on a 40-acre area that includes a 14-acre lake that will be managed for trophy bass and youth and community events.

“It’s a beautiful site and we believe we have found the absolute best retail location in the Jacksonville area to build a new super outdoor store.  We are very grateful for the support of everyone at Gate Petroleum, St. John’s County and Governor Rick Scott for this wonderful opportunity,” said Founder of Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris.

The store will generate approximately 250 jobs and is slated to open sometime during the year 2014.

[thelakelander]

Looks like some form of incentives are in play...

Richard Goldman, executive director of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, said landing the Missouri-based company’s commitment was a collaborative effort. It involved the county Economic Development office, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and the visitors and convention bureau.

“It is a big deal,” Goldman said. The company “has a reputation for creating a destination. [In] St. Johns County and Duval County as a region, so much of our assets are associated with the outdoors that it made sense for them to put it in.”

St. Johns County spokesman Michael Ryan said the government’s development agreement with Bass Pro Shops is not complete and there are “preliminary discussions” about potential tax incentives. He said negotiations will be “expedited” after Jan. 1.

Aleizha Batson, spokeswoman for Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, said the outdoor store would not have qualified for any tax incentives in Jacksonville. Still, the city is happy that Bass Pro is to be located nearby.
“Having a Bass Pro Shops right on the other side of the Duval County border helps to support our region as a destination for ecotourism and it helps to diversify options for consumers,” Batson said in an email statement.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-12-26/story/bass-pro-shops-st-johns-county-means-outdoor-retail-escalation#ixzz2GDOic760

[Tacachale]

Can't wait to hear how much they're for. What's sad is this is clearly a company that wanted to be in NE Florida anyway, and probably would have come regardless of incentives.

[JFman00]

Great article on how incentives for Bass Pro Shop/Cabela's turn out: Why Have So Many Cities and Towns Given Away So Much Money to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's?

Oops saw Tacachale already posted the article. Sorry.

[tufsu1]

so not even the T-U can figure out exactly where this will be located (no map with the story).

But, after perusing various maps, I believe it will be located on the southside of Racetrack Road west of I-95...and the lake mentioned in the story is basically behind the rest area on the interstate....the property appears to be owned by Durbin Creek National LLC (which may be somehow affiliated with Gate).

Of course the problem, as others have noted, is that 9B isn't being constructed to go south of I-95...in fact, the additional ramps and connection to Race Track Road haven't even been designed yet (theyare going through environmental study/approval currently)....and funding hasn't been identified.....so unless that changes pretty quickly, it would seem this new store won't have access to I-95 or 9B for many years.

[vicupstate]

Can't wait to hear how much they're for. What's sad is this is clearly a company that wanted to be in NE Florida anyway, and probably would have come regardless of incentives.

I don't think they would have come without incentives, which I have no doubt were very substantial in this case.  Because their model is building based on  taxpayer subsidy, they can't build one store without them.  That would lead to all future localities asking why they should do so.

The article JFman00 linked covers the bases very well.  Bass Pro wants to build in Greenville SC, but has not gotten any deal on incentives, so they continue to stay on the sidelines waiting for a new Governor or Mayor to see it their way. 

St. John's is no doubt going to pay the piper.   I think their rationale is that Bass Pro coupled with the Outlets and the World Golf Village will give them the snergy and cluster of tourist attractions they need to stand apart as a tourist destination in their own right.

[fsujax]

Bass Pro Shop originally wanted to be at the Avenues Walk. City said no to incentives and so now they go to St Johns County with their hands out.

[cline]

I have no problems with the COJ not giving Bass Pro incentives.  Constantly handing out incentives can eventually become detrimental.  I really couldn't care less if BPS comes to the region or not.  Isn't there already a Gander Mt. down there?

[mbwright]

Tallahassee is getting one later in 2013.  Not sure of any sort of handouts, but it might just be a quiet deal.  Too bad I can't get a handout, and no taxes for my house, or any improvements I would like to make.

[fsujax]

the one in Tallahassee is going into a defunct outdoor store that was built at Falls Chase, not to mention there is no interstate exposure for that one. I am sure Leon County is giving out some pretty hefty incentives.