Exterior logos and signs are up at the 85,000-square-foot, $25 million Bass Pro Shops in East Ridge, as the mega outdoor retailer moves ever closer to its summer opening date.
A rustic timber facade now covers the building’s outer walls, and crews are at work pouring asphalt for the parking lot and driveways from Camp Jordan Parkway. Inside the store, muralists are working on adding signature Bass Pro Shops outdoor and wildlife art.
The main structure of a 12,000-gallon fish tank is in place. The tank will eventually hold Largemouth bass, black and white crappie, trout, hybrid stripers and catfish, among others.
“There’s a lot of extensive work that goes in from a Bass Pro team that’s here, that basically puts all the localization and personal touches,” said Jarron Ritchie, store manager, on Tuesday. “There’s hardly any wall space in here that’s not painted.”
Ritchie, who was announced as store manager in East Ridge earlier this year, hosted local media Tuesday morning for a sneak peek of the new store’s innards, and progress.