Location & Contact:

1000 Bass Pro Shops Drive
East Peoria, IL 61611
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Description:

Bass Pro Shops, America's most popular outdoor store, continues its retail growth with the announcement they will open one of their destination outdoor superstores in East Peoria, Illinois. The store will be 145,000 square feet and will be located on the riverfront adjacent to I-74. The store is tentatively scheduled to open third quarter 2011.

"There is no other retailer in America like Bass Pro Shops," stated East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus. "Their one-of-a-kind destination retail stores attract an average of 3 million people a year to each store. Typically, when Bass Pro Shops comes to a city they attract more businesses which create more jobs, more taxes and a better community. We are thrilled they chose to be a part of our progressive city."

The decision by Bass Pro Shops was the result of many months of efforts by City staff. A development of this magnitude does not come to fruition without the support of a forward-looking City Council. To better understand the impact on the community, Council members visited other Bass Pro Shops. "East Peoria is the perfect location from which to serve downstate Illinois and beyond," according to the Mayor. "Bass Pro Shops will complement the East Peoria Downtown 2010 project that will be under construction this summer," Mayor Mingus concluded.

Bass Pro Shops stores are a combination of museum, art gallery, aquarium, outdoor education, conservation and entertainment. Each store is uniquely themed to the region in which they are located so that no two stores are alike.

"I really enjoyed meeting Mayor Mingus, the City Council and Jeff Giebelhausen and team," said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. "I appreciate them traveling to other Bass Pro Shops stores and developing the interest and enthusiasm to invite us to East Peoria. We are grateful to them and the community for this great opportunity."

The East Peoria store will offer outdoor enthusiasts 31/2 football fields of shopping excitement with the area's largest selection of equipment and clothing for hunting, fishing, 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. A restaurant and themed bowling facility are also planned.

An expansive boat showroom will feature Tracker, Nitro, Mako and SunTracker boats built by Tracker Marine Group-the world's largest manufacturer of fishing boats. A boat service center will also be available.

Unique exterior and interior motifs have branded Bass Pro Shops as visually appealing, high quality outdoor stores. The outdoors is brought indoors with massive log and rock work, large aquariums and water features stocked with native fish species, along with an extensive collection of museum quality fish and wildlife exhibits. Historic photos, artifacts, and memorabilia will pay tribute to the area's great outdoors heritage.

Award-winning in their concept and design, Bass Pro Shops retail stores are rated as top tourist destinations. Well over 100 million people visit their stores annually. Widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education, Bass Pro Shops stores also offer Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families.

Bass Pro Shops, known for hiring associates that have a passion for the outdoors, is expected to employ approximately 300 people, many of whom will come from the local region. Employment information is available in the career opportunities section of www.basspro.com