Bass Pro Shops hopes to build in Decatur this year! (lawsuit, land)

[Seth Parker]

Originally Posted by NoleFanHSV

I generally don't have issues with public money into industrial business. Generally speaking, Industrial business (like remington) adds more business because it requres shipping, parts suppliers...etc to come to the area.

Public money pumped into retail, especially just one business, takes forever to recover. What they are betting is that other businesses will come too. I don't see Bass pro shops, in and of itself, bring other businesses. I've seen some bass pro shops that are completely stand alone with nothing around them.

It deserves to be mentioned that many job creators take into consideration the retail situation of an area when they're choosing a site. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the workforce, but more so the quality of life and attraction of an area. I'm not ready to say one way or another whether this deal makes sense until all the details come out (there are still plenty left), but the above is something to think about.

[LCTMadison]

Originally Posted by NoleFanHSV

I generally don't have issues with public money into industrial business. Generally speaking, Industrial business (like remington) adds more business because it requres shipping, parts suppliers...etc to come to the area.

Public money pumped into retail, especially just one business, takes forever to recover. What they are betting is that other businesses will come too. I don't see Bass pro shops, in and of itself, bring other businesses. I've seen some bass pro shops that are completely stand alone with nothing around them.

Leeds spent nearly $25 MILLION to bring Bass Pro Shops there, and then Grand River followed. They are getting ready to begin developing the adjoining 6500 acres out there....what they are planning to do is similar to Ross Bridge, but it will actually be larger with more SFD if all goes as they have planned...mixed use with restaurants, retail, parks apartments, SF homes, and a new school.

Bass Pro was the catalyst for bringing the Destin Commons development....and retail has exploded in Destin since. The Destin area literally had nothing but the outlets and some Alvins Islands before that. We lived in the area when that was going on and it is unreal to see what has come into the area in regards to new retail and restaurants...all during an absolutely horrible economy down there.

Bass Pros have a super regional draw, and other businesses will take advantage of that.

Incentives deal between Decatur/Bass Pro/developer is in this article, they were released last week:

Decatur Bass Pro Shop will be at least 100K square feet - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

[NoleFanHSV]

Originally Posted by Seth Parker

It deserves to be mentioned that many job creators take into consideration the retail situation of an area when they're choosing a site. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the workforce, but more so the quality of life and attraction of an area. I'm not ready to say one way or another whether this deal makes sense until all the details come out (there are still plenty left), but the above is something to think about.

I kinda get that, but I don't think it should take millions to get a business here. I honestly don't think large businesses care, such as Toyota, about the quality of life in Huntsville. What they cared about was if Huntsville could provide the skilled workforce and what sort of incentives the city was going to give. I doubt Remington or Toyota cared about a bass pro shop.

[NoleFanHSV]

Originally Posted by LCTMadison

Leeds spent nearly $25 MILLION to bring Bass Pro Shops there, and then Grand River followed. They are getting ready to begin developing the adjoining 6500 acres out there....what they are planning to do is similar to Ross Bridge, but it will actually be larger with more SFD if all goes as they have planned...mixed use with restaurants, retail, parks apartments, SF homes, and a new school.

Bass Pro was the catalyst for bringing the Destin Commons development....and retail has exploded in Destin since. The Destin area literally had nothing but the outlets and some Alvins Islands before that. We lived in the area when that was going on and it is unreal to see what has come into the area in regards to new retail and restaurants...all during an absolutely horrible economy down there.

Bass Pros have a super regional draw, and other businesses will take advantage of that.

Incentives deal between Decatur/Bass Pro/developer is in this article, they were released last week:

Decatur Bass Pro Shop will be at least 100K square feet - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Destin's a whole 'nother animal though. Lots of folks go there for vacation. So, its an added bonus or a better attraction over panama city, for example, to bring in business. Huntsville? Not so much. Will it bring in retail dollars? Sure. But there is not multiplying factor into that business that there is with industrial. People who live in this area who'd go to a Bass pro shop somewhere else will just come to this one instead. If there is enough other retail businesses around, it might draw more people, but nothing on the scale of Destin. People, like me, choose the beach they go to based on many factors. People generally just don't go to Decatur or Huntsville as a matter of tourism.

[Linda_d]

Originally Posted by Bamaboy208

I was reading in the paper today that Bass Pro Shops is still planning on building in Decatur. An attorney who is working with the developers says that his clients hope to begin construction this year. I got to see this to believe it! This has been in the works since August 2008. I am not going to get my hopes up just yet. When i see dirt moved then i will.

I wouldn't hold my breath, either.

They were supposed to build a store in Buffalo, NY back about 7 or 8 years ago, and that finally fell through.

They were supposed to build a store in suburban Pittsburgh, PA at about the same time, and that one was never built either.

IMO, BP strings local communities along for years attempting to get more and more concessions until they basically get a store built for free and no future taxes. When they want to get into a big market badly enough, they don't dither. They started their suburban Toronto store after the Buffalo and Pittsburgh stores were announced and opened it about a year later.

[Tourian]

They have been rasslin' with this for a while. I'm not quite sure how long but it is looking good. I think it took Leeds over 6 years of negotiations to come up with enough scratch and we are still waiting on the hotel and the 3 restaurants but I think they'll show now that the economy is heading up and Daniel Corp is going to develop the Grand River communtiy.

Sweetwater was supposed to dwarf Bridgestreet and be second only to the Galleria in size. We'll see.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Tourian

They have been rasslin' with this for a while. I'm not quite sure how long but it is looking good. I think it took Leeds over 6 years of negotiations...

I believe it's been at least 6 years since originally announced. With a giant upheaval in the economy.

Originally Posted by Tourian

Sweetwater was supposed to dwarf Bridgestreet and be second only to the Galleria in size. We'll see.

Well I believe that was a pie-in-the-sky, years-down-the-road scenario dreamed up by some of the reporters, not something that would all be built at once.

I think most everybody here is just shouting at each other and not really interested in the development, but here's a thoughtful analysis of the financing, if you care to read it: How much risk involved in Bass Pro deal? - Decatur Daily: Local News

I disagree that there's little market. Ya'll don't understand how many people come here to fish, especially for bass. Tournaments have a HUGE financial impact. Once Decatur built its new launch facility, it was quickly booked with tournaments.
Not to mention the local folks that go out almost every day because we're right here on this great river.

Also barely tapped is the big recreational market. Unless you have a boat, you probably only go near the river when you drive over it. The wildlife refuge takes up most of our riverbanks, but a big park that has the river as its focus - with a harbor, rental docks, and other facilities that focus on enjoying the Tennessee River is badly needed. Look at how quickly the facilities at Joe Wheeler, Lucy's Branch, Decatur harbor, and Ditto Landing filled when they opened.

[chucksnee]

Hunting and fishing is huge is this part of the area. We have Academy sport and the basics (wal-mart, other little stores) but nothing that compares to what a BP can bring. This area needs a very big discount place to buy outdoor "stuff."

Me and my son just spent at least 3 hours walking aound the Nashville store Saturday....

Heck, when my job brings me to differents states, I look to see if a BP is near and I'll go visit.

Also, with as much water there is around here, there really is not a "big boat" company that sells the daily basic boat "stuff."

I think it would be a great thing for the area, in that area, with all the traffic going throught....that maybe what is needed to ensure that other things fill in between 65 and the new county line road exit......

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by Southlander

I think most everybody here is just shouting at each other and not really interested in the development, but here's a thoughtful analysis of the financing, if you care to read it: How much risk involved in Bass Pro deal? - Decatur Daily: Local News

I disagree that there's little market. Ya'll don't understand how many people come here to fish, especially for bass. Tournaments have a HUGE financial impact. Once Decatur built its new launch facility, it was quickly booked with tournaments.

That article makes it seem as if the risks aren't that great. It all just depends on which side you stand. If they spend one dollar on it it is still corporate welfare. But these guys have built such a powerful brand that maybe it is just the ultimate form of capitalism in that municipalities will pay and pave the way for them to come in. Still, to paraphrase what one author said in one of the dozens of articles I've read on Bass Pros is that the government has somewhat picked a winner in the market while all the other mom and pop places who compete don't get to suck from the teat.

I don't shop there that much. But I have to admit it is one of the most kick ass views of the city scape when you are driving in from I-20W and see it standing up on that hill - especially at dusk - along with Shops at Grand River on the right. They know how to make it look good. I'm sure they'll do the same for Sweetwater.

[unlblkrubi]

Gander Mountain has everything you need and cheaper then Bass Pro . Just not as fancy.