Bass Pro Shops to Open Store in Tacoma, Wash.

Bass Pro Shops Announces Plans to Open First Store in Pacific Northwest

Springfield, Missouri — Bass Pro Shops, America’s most popular outdoor store, will locate its very first store in the Pacific Northwest in Tacoma, Washington at the highly visible intersection of I-5 and 72nd Street — a main north/south corridor through the Seattle area and Gateway to Mount Rainier. The new 170,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, which will include the much-acclaimed Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill, is scheduled to open in the early summer of 2014.

Artist's conceptual drawing of new Tacoma store.

Tacoma enjoys a rich tradition of outdoor sports and history as it is situated on Washington’s Puget Sound with easy access to Mount Rainer National Park.Some 10 million people visit this area each year and an estimated 4.9 million people within a 100 mile radius and call this area home.

“All of us at Bass Pro Shops are excited to have the opportunity to open a super outdoor store at this premier site in Tacoma in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and to be a part of this exciting community,” stated Johnny Morris, Founder. “The area’s proud history of great fishing and hunting traditions make it an ideal location. We are eager to bring Bass Pro Shops’ low prices and famous friendly, expert service to the region’s many sportsmen and women and their families,” Morris continued.

Bass Pro Shops will host over 120 million people visiting their 77 stores and Tracker 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 recently 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 named by J.D. Powers & Associates as one of the top eight retailers in America for customer service excellence.

“This will be the first Bass Pro Shops in the state of Washington and we are glad they chose Tacoma. The arrival of this destination retailer will attract more shoppers into the city, boost our tax base and create new jobs,” said Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. “This investment in our community by Bass Pro Shops further demonstrates Tacoma as a great place to do business.”

Bass Pro Shops’ unique, award-winning outdoor stores are known for combining retail with entertainment, conservation and outdoor education. More than just a fishing and hunting store, Bass Pro Shops stores 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. Their expansive boat showroom will feature Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe, Grizzly and Mako boats built by Tracker Marine Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of fishing boats.

The Tacoma Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World will feature the popular Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill. This nautical-themed entity located within the store, features a truly unique atmosphere and design geared for family fun and dining. Twelve lanes will offer customers the chance to bowl ‘in the ocean. Casual family dining will be available in the Grill where customers may select from a menu featuring a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and burgers.

Bass Pro Shops’ unique exterior and interior motifs have branded them as visually appealing, high quality outdoor stores. 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 the regions great outdoor heritage.