CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — On Wednesday, Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo announced that Bass Pro Shops has selected Corpus Christi as an expansion site. This will be the first expansion location in the Coastal Bend. The nearest location of a Bass Pro Shop is more than 135 miles away in Harlingen, TX and another store in San Antonio.
During a morning news conference at Corpus Christi City Hall, Guajardo explained she has been in discussions with Bass Pro Shops for the last two years. She was working under a strict non-disclosure agreement.
Bass Pro Shops is a favorite for hunting, fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts. They have been exploring an opportunity to come to Corpus Christi.
"It's a long time in the making," Guajardo said.
She explained Bass Pro Shops could create hundreds of jobs, drive tourism to Corpus Christi and be an economic development initiative with big potential for the community.
"This would bring more consumers to any business Downtown or across the city, for that matter. It's a win for everybody," Guajardo added.
Over the past decade, Bass Pro Shops has also consistently invested more than 10 percent of its earnings back into local economies to support conservation efforts.
“Our whole mission at Bass Pro Shops is to connect people with the outdoors and to preserve and conserve all that was left to us so we can leave it to the next generations. It makes a lot of sense to be here in Corpus Christi," Bass Pro Shops Real Estate Representative, Michael Dunham, said.
Guajardo also mentioned during the news conference that the multi-million dollar business has a serious commitment to the U.S. military and veterans.
So far, Bass Pro Shops has opened 16 stores in Texas. The location for the Corpus Christi store has not been chosen at this time.
The City of Corpus Christi said they will continue finalizing negotiations of the expansion, with more details to come soon.
