Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels recently joined Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale and Portage Mayor Doug Olson to announce the state support of a planned destination-retail store in Portage, through assistance from the Indiana Economic Development Corp (IEDC). The Springfield, Mo.,-based retailer is widely known to attract additional service industry businesses wherever a store is located and would mean a significant increase in investment for northwest Indiana.
The Bass Pro Shops Portage store will be 130,000 square feet with an approximately 8,000 square foot Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant, a marina and an expansive boat showroom featuring a complete selection of Tracker, Nitro and Tahoe boats. The IEDC will provide approximately $2.5 million in public infrastructure assistance for the city of Portage to help aid in the creation of business that the Bass Pro Shops Portage location will attract.
“We are very excited about this opportunity to open our second store in Indiana to help better serve our customers and those who visit this area,” said Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale. “It has been a pleasure partnering with Governor Daniels, Mickey Maurer and the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Mayor Olson, and everyone with the city of Portage that has worked together to make this happen.”
Bass Pro Shops unique, award-winning outdoor stores are known for combining retail with entertainment, conservation and outdoor education. Their destination retail stores across America and Canada attract over 78 million people annually.
Located on I-94 at Portage’s Northern edge, the city and Holladay Properties sought out Bass Pro several years ago as a catalyst for growth in that area.
“We felt there was no better ‘difference-maker’ than Bass Pro to bring about positive change to the City’s Northern Gateway,” said Holladay Senior Vice-President Tim Healy. “With access to Lake Michigan, multiple marinas and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, they are a natural fit.”
Bass Pro Shops, also a major catalog and internet retailer, is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. They currently have 33 retail locations in 21 states and Canada with 8 to 10 new locations tentatively scheduled to open by the end of the year.
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