Bass Pro

[bassNspear]

Has anyone hear anything about it latly?

[Daze Off]

Not a word - sometimes it is listed in the BPS catalog as a future location and other times it is not so I am not sure that anyone really knows at this point.

Daze Off

[MNBassGuy]

I spoke with BPS last year about a sponsorship and the reply was that they'd like to sit down once the store was open. The person who I was trading emails with said that it was going to be mid-summer of this year. I'm not sure what the hold up is, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to be this summer. You'd think that a successful chain like BPS would have their ducks in a row, so I have to believe there are building issues with the site.

Hope they get to it!

[bassNspear]

and there saying that there going to build it by the MOA correct?

if its going to be done mid summer, there going to have to have extreme makeover(ty and the crew) help them out.

I would love to see one here.

[Daze Off]

I'm pretty sure that he issue is with MOA and the City of Bloomington over the expansion in general. If theyc an get that worked out then BPS is a given according to the article in the paper a few months ago - might even be a year ago now.

Daze Off

[primetime49]

I read some articles about the tax inclement financing that they and Cabellas were using to get property tax incentives to build in .

It seems that if property taxes are not swayed or greatly reduced that these giants simply dont come in and build.

Besides being very large on price and having everything in each store they want taxpayers in each community to wave property tax

There is only one company I know of that works great with a city[Green Bay Packers]they let each citizen of there town have a piece of them

Maybe their are not enough fishermen and outdoors persons living in Bloomington to let taxes ride

Any Council or city workers from that town with an update??

[Daze Off]

prime -

You are absolutely right about the retailers - I remember the conflict in Rogers over giving Cabela's such a deal but that is true of all industry. Communities have to give incentives in order to draw businesses to their jurisdiction and state's do the same thing to draw industry to them.

In the case of BPS and MOA though I believe the beef is with the MOA developers who want to double the size of the Mall and are seeking incentives. BPS would be the principal tennant or anchor of the expansion. MOA would presumably then provide some incentive to draw BPS or some other retailer to be the anchor.

Of course the argument is that despite losing property taxes the community ultimately realizes a net gain when jobs, housing, and other auxillary benefits are considered. Other businesses in the area would realize a benefit from increased traffic, etc. and the like.

Daze Off

[primetime49]

I would imagine that the food industry would be greatly enhanced by familys traveling in to Bloomington for the day as Dad now would be shopping with them

I have been to Mall Of America only twice,still have never been in a Cabellas

We do go to Bass Pros in Springfield when Fishing in Arkansas

Just saw some starter boat prices from both in todays newspaper so will probaly go to Cabellas this spring to look at boats.

Already bought my 2008 rods and reels and my lines and tackle are supplyed by mfgrs so will wander but they dont get my money when I travel into any store unless its in the closeout bins.

[Saint Paul Dan]

I have worked at the MOA for six years. I have dealt with the mall management on a pretty close basis for some time. In my opinion there will never be a BPS on site at the MOA. In fact I would go as far as to say that the "Second Phase" expansion that would ACTUALLY make the MOA the biggest mall in america will probably never happen. Not only is there an issue regarding a reduction in property tax but a bill went up before the Minnesota house that was shot down. The bill would have, in effect, used tax dollars to pay for the infrastructure improvements that are necesarry for the project to occur. Since the people of minnesota decided they didn't want to pay for the infrastructure needed, it sounds like they gave up. If I'm reading this correctly, they (MOA) believe it's the responsibility of "Joe Citizen" to provide the necessary capital in order for them to rake in millions. If not, they're not willing to put up the risk. In addition mall traffic litterally doesn't exist anymore at the MOA. As stated before, BPS is a big company and I would argue that they DO "have all their ducks in order" and that they don't want to involve themselves with this level of disfunction. Just my two cents.

[Slyster]

Oh man that would be SAD if Bass Pro doesn't come to Minnesota.. the lake capital of the world! What can I do to help??

[DaveC]

 Originally Posted By: Saint Paul Dan

In addition mall traffic litterally doesn't exist anymore at the MOA.

Very interesting post, but every time me and my family goes to MOA its a zoo. St. Paul Dan is the traffic decrease a recent event?

[Daze Off]

SPD -

Kind of surprised about the mall traffic observation but I pretty much never go there so would have no point of reference. Interesting though.

As for the attitude of the mall management/ownership about the responsibility of John/Jane Q. Public - not surprised at all - haven't we been battling the same attitude with some of the local professional sports franchises wanting new digs? Same story, second chapter....

Personally, unless BPS was going to move much more heavily into the realm of walleye, northern, and muskie fishing and compete with Cabela's in those areas I can't see BPS moving up here - there are just not enough bass fisherman to support it here. At least not relative to the more southern states where they seem to have concentrated their expansions.

Can hardly find a muskie or walleye bait in their Master Catalog now.

Daze Off

[Saint Paul Dan]

From the perspective of someone that doesn't spend fourty hours a week at the MOA, it can still seem like a busy mall. Our store's data shows a consistent decline starting in about 2003. And it's certainly not just us. The talk around the mall between fellow employees includes a general fascination that stores are still open. I talk to some smaller retail stores that close out a mid-week day at a grand total of $0.00. Thats in american dollars. You should see some of the tenant/management meetings, they get pretty heated. They have devised some pretty interseting techniques at counting the number of visitors to the moa. That way they can still report "record numbers" each year. Its actually kind of humorous. With that said, I'm a true pessamist. If BPS moved to the MOA site tomorrow and mall traffic went through the roof, I will be the first one to admit that I was wrong. Like my Uncle Sven used to say, "If you set your sights low enough, you'll always succeed".

Dan

[Saint Paul Dan]

In my earlier posts I may have sounded a bit harsh if you're not used to my dark sense of humor. I'm a scandanavian so its in my blood. This was coming from a guy who spent about 5 minutes trying to find a spot in the MOA parking ramp today. So, I'm not oblivious to the people that visit the mall each day. I'm just used to spending about 20 minutes trying to find a spot and ultimately having to park my truck outside of the ramp on a residential street. I guess I was trying to shed light on the concrete trend in the decreasing number of visitors. Its probably not as bad as I make it out to be but, I do believe that BPS is aware of this situation and has included this in their decision process.

dan

[bassNspear]

it sure would be nice to get one here in MN

[bassphish2005]

NO BPS.!? I am crushed@@@