Bass Pro Shops... and future 'plans' for the Mall of America?

[Scott M]

That would be unfortuante if it is true. The newspapers will report it soon if it is true.

[Slyster]

OMG this would be horrible.

[Slyster]

Haven't heard a thing almost 24 hours later.. must be false!

[Johnny_Da_Der]

i hope this bass pro thing goes through.

i grew up about 30 minutes from the original bass pro in springfield, mo and i miss it. much better than that store out in rogers. prices seem better too.

[Cabela10]

Yeah,I hope it's not true. I was really looking forward to that addition of BPS at the MOA. So when the girlfriend is shopping, I have someplace to go. (Contact Us Please), it's going to be awesome. Imagine how many more dudes will be at the MOA after BPS opens. The guys will be asking the girls to go to the MOA. ha ha ha.

[vikingmeatwad]

I think is still a go. Not sure where you heard that it's not.

Info from bloomington HSOforum. I'm pretty sure the "recreational anchor" is BPS. I hope it is as it may bring prices down.

Project description: The approved Mall of America Expansion for Phase II revised preliminary development plan will replace the existing preliminary development plan concept for development (approved for 2.247 million square feet of development) of the Met Center parcel. The revised preliminary development plan provides a framework for a 5.6 million square foot integrated mixed use center consisting of retail, hotel, office, residential and entertainment primary uses. Included within the concept are three hotels (including a hotel-waterpark development), performing arts center and museum spaces, town center, recreational anchor, connection to IKEA and offices. Unique to this plan is the MOA Phase II direct connection to the existing Mall of America at the same elevation as the first floor level of the existing Mall of America.

Water and sanitary sewer utility services will be provided by extensions from the existing systems and upgraded, as necessary, consistent with Airport South district plans. Stormwater management will be provided primarily by utilizing physical separation facilities and additional stormwater lines connecting to existing stormwater management facilities located below the Minnesota River bluff.

In order to provide the direct connection to the existing Mall of America, Lindau Lane is proposed to be lowered with the MOA Phase II to be constructed over Lindau Lane . Major access points will continue to be at IKEA Way , 22 nd Avenue and on American Boulevard . The applicant is proposing structured parking for approximately 6500 vehicles in two parking ramps. A primary parking ramp is proposed parallel to 24 th Avenue and will span American Boulevard . A second parking ramp will be constructed adjacent to American Boulevard and below the office element in the northwest corner of the Mall structure. Building layout and massing takes into consideration height transition zones for the new MSP runway 17-35.

[bassNspear]

it would be awesome to see a bass proshop come to minnesota. I think most of the smaller stores would go out of business, which wont be good for them thow.

Guess we will have to see if it is coming forsure.

[Griggs]

I haven't heard anything in a little while but heres what I know. Bass Pro Shops signed a conditional agreement saying that if MOA would build a "phase 2" that Bass Pro Shops would be the anchor store for it, like Sears/Bloomingdales/Macy's/Norstrom are the anchor stores for the current mall.

Well a couple months back the legislative session had the MOA tax money for phase 2 as a part of the tax bill that was not passed. This pretty much put the big HOLD on phase 2. I know that Bass Pro Shops conditional lease agreement was set to expire something like 2 years after they made it and that 2 years is about up. As far as I know, phase 2 is still on hold, so I would guess if it hasn't happened already the agreement will expire.

Phase II is something that MOA has been trying to do for years. They have gone through countless plans and designs for it. The mall went through a ownership change about a year ago, it used to be owned by Simon and is now owned by a family from Canada that also owns West Edmonton Mall. This family would really like to build phase 2 but they aren't going to pay for the whole thing so its about tax money, which is pretty tight around here right now. If it ever happens, phase 2 will be connected to the north side of the mall in the parking lot where the old Met Center used to be located.

Well see if this phase 2 can ever get on its feet...

[ikeslayer]

griggs you broke my heart

tear

[Griggs]

sorry, they could renew the agreement =P

[Cabela10]

Griggs, that Canada ownership owned the MOA the whole time. What happen was that some other company that had part ownership at the MOA sold out to another company that was in on the MOA, which made them the majority ownership group and could make all decisions. Well, the people that designed and built this project, the Canada, West Edmonton Mall people, sued this group and took back the majority ownership in the company, I found the story about it online.

Also what I heard is, that Bloomington or whoever decides on the tax stuff said NO to Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops was looking for the same deal that Cabela's got in Rogers, no taxes for ten years, or something like that. They got denied and I believe it blew the deal up.

Only what I heard, like I said, I hope it's not true, but only rumors. I could see this happening to the outdoorsmen of Minnesota.

[Coach Dog]

My most recent BPS catalog has Minneapolis as a future star "coming soon." This has not been in any other catalogs as I watch for it.

[fishinchicks]

That future star isn't on their web-site, though. I am sure hoping that didn't fall through.

[Griggs]

Quote:

---

Griggs, that Canada ownership owned the MOA the whole time. What happen was that some other company that had part ownership at the MOA sold out to another company that was in on the MOA, which made them the majority ownership group and could make all decisions. Well, the people that designed and built this project, the Canada, West Edmonton Mall people, sued this group and took back the majority ownership in the company, I found the story about it online.

Also what I heard is, that Bloomington or whoever decides on the tax stuff said NO to Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops was looking for the same deal that Cabela's got in Rogers, no taxes for ten years, or something like that. They got denied and I believe it blew the deal up.

Only what I heard, like I said, I hope it's not true, but only rumors. I could see this happening to the outdoorsmen of Minnesota.

---

Sounds about right, but Simon was the majority then, a LOT of changes have happened since the Grnaziums (sp?) took over, such as they now have offices at MOA.

Anyways, I believe BPS is still on the current blue prints of Phase II, but like I said, that got the big, "No Go" on the tax bill, so its all on hold. The mall will be switching the park to Nickelodeon in the spring, there will be Corona and a couple other bars going in at some point, maybe by spring and I believe they will begin work on a hotel in the south parking lot, but Phase II is on hold.

[Cabela10]

Griggs, are they moving bars in on the 4th floor again? I thought they had issues with people roaming the mall hallways before, thats why they shut all those places down. Are they changing something to make this not possible, to roam the halls in the middle of the night?

[Griggs]

Nah, I'm sure they could care less about that, thats what security is for. Most of those bars were owned my one owner, and for some reason he decided to close them all down for "remodeling" well he left for like Texas or something and left the bars there. It was right around the time of the smoking ban, I'm not sure if that had something to do with it. They still have all the stuff inside like they were still open yesterday, well up until recently, now they are starting to clean them out to get ready for the new ones.

Its been a battle to get something going again up there, I don't really know why, but the Corona bar will be where Fat Tuesdays was and there will be a new game bar like Jillians in the same space, just with a different name. I think there is going to be another one, but I can't remember.