After much speculation, the Rio Grande Valley will finally see Bass Pro Shops in Harlingen.
City leaders, Bass Pro Shops representatives and community members gathered Friday to break ground for the 150-thousand square foot outdoorsman's dream store.
Action 4 Nature Reporter Richard Moore was one of the guest speakers at the event and even he called Bass Pro Shops his “favorite store in the whole world.”
But more than just a store, Moore said Bass Pro Shop is a destination- one that Valley residents won’t have to wait much longer to visit the store.
"By Memorial Day I am told that you will see the outline of our store - soon it' will be going vertical,” Bass Pro Shops spokesperson Katie Mitchell said. “And come November, you can walk through the doors, so we are excited."
City leaders are hoping that with the estimated 200,000 eco-tourists that visit the Valley each year, and the local outdoor sportsmen and their families looking for a place to shop, Bass Pro will flourish in the Valley.
And will in turn, boost the area's economy.
"We're looking at 250 to 300 positions that will be both full-time and part time,” Mitchell said. “The store is set to open in November; we probably will be doing a job fair here in July or August."
The plan is to replicate the outdoors of South Texas inside the store complete with a giant aquarium with native fish, a 12-lane bowling alley that will give the illusion of bowling under water, and a restaurant to fill-up after a day of shopping.
If you are interested in applying for a job at Bass Pro Shops visit their website at www.basspro.com and click careers.
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