Bass Pro Shops is coming to Spartanburg County
Destination retailer Bass Pro Shops announced Wednesday a new South Carolina store location at I-85 and SC-101, near the BMW plant in Spartanburg County.
“We are Spartanburg and we are revolutionary,” said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, chairman for economic recruitment and development, on revealing the news. “This announcement will be heard around the world.”
The new store is expected to draw customers from North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia in addition to South Carolina.
Bass Pro Shops will be the primary anchor for a 75-acre mixed-use development that is expected to include a hotel, restaurants and additional retail, according to a press release.
This will be the third South Carolina location for the Missouri-based outdoor mega-retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor equipment. Bass Pro Shops has two other Palmetto State stores – one in Myrtle Beach and one in North Charleston that is expected to open next year.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to build a super outdoor store directly fronting I-85 near Greer. We’re proud to offer Bass Pro Shops’ low prices and famous friendly, expert service to the many sportsmen and women who call this region home,” said Johnny Morris, the store’s founder. “This store will be a tribute to the great sporting tradition and heritage of the region and a celebration of the sporting men and women of South Carolina.”
Nationally, Bass Pro Shops will host more than 116 million people visiting their 85 stores and marine centers across America and Canada this year. The average customer stays two and a half hours and drives an average distance of 50+ miles, according to the press release.
The 120,000-square-foot store will also feature the company’s popular Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill, a nautical-themed center for family recreation and dining. The Fishbowl offers 12 bowling lanes, leading customers to feel like they are bowling under the ocean. Casual family dining will be available in the Grill, which typically offers a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and burgers.
The announcement comes on the heels of competitor Cabela’s grand opening on Woodruff Road. Bass Pro Shops also announced a new 100,000-square-foot location in Decatur, Ala., on April 8.
The announcement was “exciting news for the Upstate,” said Steve Owens, communications manager for the City of Greer, in a statement. Morris had expressed an interest in bringing a store to Greer last July and asked the city to help find potential sites, according to the statement.
“The city is extremely pleased that this search has come to a fruitful conclusion at a site that already offers sewer, gas, and electricity through Greer [Commission of Public Works],” said the statement. “We welcome Bass Pro Shops as our newest retail neighbor.”
The new store is expected to open in 2016.
