Bass Pro Shops’ announcement that it is coming to Gainesville is good news for the entire community, according to a University of Florida retail expert.
“It’s terrific. Gainesville is underdeveloped in retailing, and more national retailers are likely to come here soon,” said Steve Kirn, executive director of the Miller Retail Center at the Warrington College of Business Administration.
On May 16, Bass Pro Shops announced its plans to build an 80,000-square-foot store in Celebration Pointe, opening in 2016
Landing Bass Pro Shops is important to Celebration Pointe, as the company is the first retailer for the planned development located west of I-75 and north of Archer Road.
The announcement is also an indication that Butler Plaza will attract popular national retailers as it develops its new master plan with room to double the shopping complex’s size, Kirn said.
“Gainesville is a good fit for stores such as Dick’s Sporting Goods,” he said. “Retailers like to be around complementary stores that attract the same types of customers.”
Successful retailers don’t sweat the competition, Kirn said.
“They think, ‘We’ve got a winner, and we’ll take market share from other stores.’”
Stores such as Bass Pro Shops are regional draws — customers stay more than two hours in the stores, which often feature multiple fish tanks, stuffed animals and historical pieces.
“The Gainesville store will be a destination store and generate spinoffs such as restaurants,” Kirn said.
Nick Banks, managing director of Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, applauded the Bass Pro Shops announcement.
“Landing a destination retailer like this is a huge win for Celebration Pointe and a big win for our community,” he said. “The trade area for this type of use is enormous, and it should help create some viable co-tenancy to attract other retailers and uses to our market.”
Both Celebration Pointe and the Butler Plaza expansion will be based on a “town center” concept.
“They create a feel of the old Main Street, becoming a community center where people walk around, stop for coffee and stay a relatively long time,” Kirn said.
Celebration Pointe plans to begin clearing land in June, and public infrastructure — including the main entrance off of Archer Road — will follow shortly thereafter, said spokesman Mark Winter. The first phase of the project will open in 2016.
“People from students to seniors will be able to connect to the UF campus, medical facilities and other parts of the community,” he said. “(While also) enjoying the 100 acres of nature conservatory that we will have.”