A massive 200,000-square-foot, single-floor Bass Pro Shops opens Wednesday, November 11 in Sayreville, New Jersey, and 42Freeway was inside a day early for a preview tour of the incredible new outdoor retail and entertainment destination! (Grand Opening Website)
The new Bass Pro Shops is conveniently located off the Garden State Parkway near the intersection of Routes 95 and 287, within the upcoming Riverton waterfront retail and entertainment complex. It’s also just a few short minutes from the New Jersey Turnpike.
Absolutely, you’re going to find an amazing selection of outdoor products for fishing, hunting, camping, boating and more. But Bass Pro Shops stores are also known as destinations themselves, and the Sayreville location takes that experience to another level.
One of the biggest signature attractions is the breathtaking 80,000-gallon Shipwreck aquarium, which features an enormous column-style aquarium and a stingray touch pool.
Yes, you can actually put your hand into the water and touch the stingrays!
Directly next to the aquarium is Uncle Buck’s snack stand and during our Tuesday Visit they were already stocking delicious muffins and more.
The entire theme of the Sayreville Bass Pro Shops is built around an underwater experience, particularly on the left side of the building, where the fishing and boating departments are centered.
Even the indoor selection of Tracker and other boats is presented beneath fish hanging from the ceiling, with the ceiling itself painted to create the illusion that you’re underwater looking up toward the surface.
And there’s a lot more to see!
Note: If you are living in South Jersey, Sayreville really isn’t far.. just 75 minutes from Deptford. But as you’ll read the entertainment aspects (Larger Restaurant, Bowling, Bar, Arcade) will open later this year… so maybe before taking the drive, you visit in January?
Flemish Cap Restaurant, Bowling Alley, Bar and Arcade Coming Soon
Bass Pro Shops has become known for being as much a family entertainment destination as a massive retail store.
The Sayreville location will feature The Flemish Cap, a one-of-a-kind restaurant and adventure experience inspired by the mysteries and beauty of the North Atlantic.
This entertainment area will include a full restaurant, bar, bowling alley and arcade.
Unfortunately, the Flemish Cap portion of the project is still under construction and will not be ready for Wednesday’s grand opening.
During our preview visit, we were given a tour by General Manager Alex, who told us they are hopeful that the remaining entertainment attractions will be open by the end of the year.
Clearly, they’re moving quickly to try to have everything ready during the core holiday shopping season.
During my visit Tuesday, I saw a considerable number of construction workers moving in and out of the right side of the building, particularly out front, where crews were actively working on wood finishes and other elements.
While the entertainment attractions won’t be available Wednesday (beyond the aquarium), the entire retail store is expected to be open for customers.
Grand Opening Wednesday, November 11 – Evening for Conservation
Bass Pro Shops is planning a big celebration for its Sayreville opening, starting Wednesday evening.
The store officially opens at 6 p.m. on November 11, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
They’re calling the event an Evening for Conservation, and Bass Pro Shops will donate 15% of opening-night sales toward conservation efforts through several partner charitable organizations.
The festivities actually begin at 5 p.m., with live entertainment from nationally charting country music artist Celeste Kellogg.
Visitors will also have opportunities to meet professional anglers, including Bassmaster and Bass Pro Tour stars Ott DeFoe, Jimmy Houston and John Poveromo.
For the kids, Charlie Evans and characters from PAW Patrol are expected to be part of the celebration.
NASCAR fans will also have something to check out, as two Bass Pro Shops-sponsored race cars associated with Austin Dillon and Chase Briscoe will be on display.
And the fun continues throughout the weekend!
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Bass Pro Shops is planning giveaways for the first 200 customers when the doors open at 9 a.m.
Giveaway items include a YETI Yonder water bottle, Bass Pro Shops trucker hat and Johnny Morris steak strips, with different items featured during the celebration.
Special grand opening deals are also expected, although as of Tuesday evening, the promotional flyer had not yet been updated with the full selection of offers.
Check the website for more details!
Our Preview Tour – An Incredible Underwater Experience
For Tuesday’s preview, myself and representatives from several other metro-area news outlets were given a guided tour of the left portion of the store, starting at the main entrance and extending through the massive fishing, boating, camping and western-wear departments.
And what an impressive retail space this is!
The large central entrance area immediately introduces visitors to the underwater theme, with detailed displays, aquatic imagery and the spectacular shipwreck aquarium.
The 80,000-gallon aquarium and stingray encounter are going to be huge attractions for families, even those who aren’t necessarily shopping for outdoor equipment.
From there, we continued into the western-wear portion of the building, where you’ll find cowboy hats and clothing.
Just past that we entered into the enormous selection of fishing equipment, supplies and accessories.
A special feature of the Sayreville location is an Offshore Angler store-within-a-store, focused on saltwater fishing and the equipment needed for offshore adventures.
General Manager Alex shared something that I thought was particularly interesting about Bass Pro Shops employees.
He explained that the people working in these departments are outdoor enthusiasts themselves. Whether their interests are fishing, hunting, camping or other activities, they’re not simply selling products.
They have firsthand experience and can share techniques, tips and recommendations to help customers get more enjoyment from their outdoor adventures.
That’s a nice benefit when you’re making purchases for a hobby or activity where experience really matters.
Giant Tuna, Sharks and Plenty of Photo Opportunities
Throughout the Sayreville store, you’ll find some really cool photo opportunities.
Inside the Offshore Angler section is a recreation of a massive 1,200-pound tuna, based on a fish caught by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris himself.
There’s also a large shark display that makes for another fun photo opportunity… a photo-opp that looks like you are the champion fisherman!
One of the things I really appreciate about Bass Pro Shops is the amount of thought that goes into creating these retail environments.
For example, the camping department features four separate camping setups, complete with tents, seating and simulated fireplaces.
Rather than simply putting tents on shelves, they’ve created realistic outdoor scenes that help shoppers imagine how the equipment could work for their own camping trips.
And I love the smaller details!
Throughout the fishing and Bait-And-Tackle areas, the interior store features rustic wood finishes and carefully designed displays that give the space the feel of a traditional outdoor outfitter.
Even the concrete floor has received special attention.
Look down as you’re walking through certain areas, and you’ll notice footprints from small animals and birds worked into the concrete, almost as if the creatures had walked across the surface and left their tracks permanently captured in time.
It’s those little details that make the store more than just another large retail building.
On the left end of the store you’ll find a large selection of boats and ATVs both inside and out.
The front corner here is all glass makes a perfect backdrop of tracker boats, hobie kayaks and more!. These brands are owned by Bass Pro Shops, and Alex said they want to build in America.. when Bass Pro Shops purchased Hobie they moved manufacturing back to the USA.
Clothing, Western Wear, Hunting, Camping and More
Of course, the Sayreville Bass Pro Shops is still a massive retail store, offering an incredible variety of merchandise across its 200,000 square feet.
In addition to fishing, hunting, camping and boating equipment, shoppers will find extensive clothing departments, including Western wear, children’s apparel, hats and outdoor clothing.
There are also products from popular brands such as YETI, including coolers, insulated cups and drinkware, as well as Ray-Ban sunglasses and other accessories.
The right side of the store features additional retail departments, including hunting and children’s areas.
During our Tuesday tour, that portion of the building wasn’t available to the media because of the significant amount of activity taking place ahead of the opening.
However, we were told that all retail departments will be ready for customers when the store opens Wednesday evening.
Santa’s Wonderland Arrives for the Holidays
With the Sayreville store opening right in the middle of the holiday shopping season, Bass Pro Shops has already decorated for Christmas!
The popular Santa’s Wonderland experience will run from November 12 through December 24.
Families can visit Santa and receive a free 4-by-6 photo, with additional photo packages available for purchase.
I believe advance reservations are required for the Santa experience, so be sure to check the Bass Pro Shops website before making the trip.
Between the aquarium, stingray encounter, elaborate store displays and Santa’s Wonderland, there’s certainly plenty for families to enjoy.
Grand Opening Parking and Shuttle Service
Bass Pro Shops is expecting massive crowds for the Wednesday evening opening, and they’re making special arrangements to help visitors get to the store.
Even with significant parking available at the new Sayreville location, the crowds are expected to fill those spaces quickly.
To help manage traffic and parking, Bass Pro Shops is arranging shuttle service from several additional locations.
Those include Woodbridge Center Mall, the NY Waterway South Amboy Ferry Terminal, and the nearby Epic Church property, which is also part of the Riverton development area.
Epic Church is making its parking available for the opening celebration.
If you’re planning to attend Wednesday evening, I would strongly recommend reviewing the parking and shuttle information provided by Bass Pro Shops before heading out.
Bass Pro Shops Is One of the First Pieces of Massive Riverton Development
The new Bass Pro Shops is also significant because it’s one of the first major elements to open within the enormous Riverton waterfront development.
Riverton is planned as a massive mixed-use destination that will transform this Sayreville waterfront property with shopping, dining, entertainment and other attractions.
And Bass Pro Shops is a pretty impressive way to kick things off!
These stores have become true destinations, drawing visitors from well beyond their immediate communities.
Bass Pro Shops locations can attract millions of visitors annually. I’ve previously noted that some of these large outdoor retail destinations can draw more annual visitors than even famous Philadelphia attractions such as the Liberty Bell.
That’s pretty amazing when you consider we’re talking about a store selling fishing rods, camping equipment and outdoor clothing!
But when you walk through a Bass Pro Shops and see the aquariums, elaborate themed displays and family entertainment attractions, you start to understand the appeal.
Drive From South Jersey? Now or Later?
For those living near Sayreville, absolutely give the new Bass Pro Shops a visit!
It’s an impressive store, and the grand opening should be a lot of fun.
Just understand that it’s likely to be very crowded for the first several days.
For my 42Freeway followers in the core South Jersey area, however, I might suggest waiting a little bit before making the trip.
From the Philadelphia-area portion of South Jersey, you’re looking at approximately an hour and 15 minutes of driving, depending on your starting point and traffic.
And if you’re going to make that drive, why not wait until the Flemish Cap restaurant, bowling alley, bar and arcade are fully open?
That way, you can experience everything this massive new destination has to offer.
Honestly, I think this could be a really fun destination for one of those colder winter weekends in January, when you’re looking for something different to do.
You could spend time exploring the incredible Bass Pro Shops, checking out the aquarium and stingrays, enjoying a meal, and maybe even bowling a game or two.
For now, the Sayreville Bass Pro Shops opens Wednesday, November 11 at 6 p.m., bringing an impressive new outdoor retail destination to New Jersey.
And after getting an early look inside, I can tell you there’s a lot to see!
Links and location
Bass Pro Shops Sayreville
1 Bass Pro Drive
Sayreville NJ 08872
732-313-9300
