Bass Pro Shops prepares to open in Atlantic City in April

Bass Pro Shops has penciled in an April 15 store opening at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway.

Crews are putting the finishing touches on the store, which features giant, hand-painted murals, a 35-foot wooden boat once used as a fishing trawler in Washington state and a two-story faux waterfall that serves as a backdrop for a 13,000-gallon freshwater aquarium stocked with native fish, according to PressOfAtlanticCity.com

The Atlantic City plans date back to 2012, when store officials and representatives of development group The Cordish Cos. announced a spring 2013 groundbreaking.

The store is receiving public financing through the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the state agency that oversees Atlantic City tourism and development projects. According to PressOfAtlanticCity.com, the CRDA contributed a $12.3 million loan to help finance the store’s estimated $15 million construction cost. Bass Pro Shops also will benefit from an additional $11 million over 11 years as part of a sales-tax rebate program.
 
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