St. Johns County issued two building permits March 21 for Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Outdoor Showroom at a combined cost of almost $22.3 million.
EMJ Construction of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the contractor for the project at 355 World Commerce Parkway in St. Augustine.
The project costs are $21.735 million for the 103,545-square-foot Outdoor World store and $550,000 for the 27,000-square-foot Outdoor Showroom for the sale of boats and ATVs.
Bass Pro Shops announced in May 2023 that it planned to open an Outdoor World retail store in St. Johns County in 2024 along World Commerce Parkway in St. Augustine.
The retailer bought 18.11 acres in May 2023 from World Commerce Center L.L.P., led by Jacksonville-based Steinemann-Wolfe L.L.C.
Bass Pro Outdoor World L.L.C., based in Springfield, Missouri, paid $8 million for the property.
RAA Design LLC of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Kinetic Design + Development LLC of Springfield are the project applicants and agents. Contineo Group LLC of Decatur, Georgia, is the civil engineer.
The site is vacant land along World Commerce Parkway south of Buc-ee’s and Costco Wholesale. It is west of Interstate 95 at the International Golf Parkway exit south of World Golf Village.
Bass Pro Shops said it will be the 13th Bass Pro Shops in Florida and expects to employ more than 115 “outfitters” at the store.
It said in the May news release it “has been searching for the perfect location to serve the greater Jacksonville market, and now with the astonishing growth to the south, into St. Johns County, this 100,000-square-foot location will be convenient and accessible for the entire region for years to come.”
By comparison, the Costco north of the planned Outdoor World is 162,000 square feet.
Bass Pro Shops sells fishing and outdoor gear for activities including hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping and more. The store will showcase boats, ATVs and side-by-side vehicles.
Bass Pro Shops feature an aquarium and water features stocked with native fish species along with “thousands of local antiques and artifacts, hundreds of trophy fish and wildlife mounts, and murals depicting local scenes.”
The locations offer dozens of events throughout the year including hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities.
The company says it was founded in 1972 when Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield.
The announcement came after previous abandoned efforts to enter the Northeast Florida market in St. Johns County.