You are invited to attend a special groundbreaking ceremony for the #1 outdoor retailer in America, Bass Pro Shops, coming to Denham Springs later this year. The store will be the anchor to a planned 75-acre development at I-12 and Range Avenue. The 163,000 square-foot store will include an Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant and is planned to open in late December.

The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 3rd at the store site in the development project. An old fashion crawfish boil and fish fry is scheduled after the event by invitation only.

Officials scheduled to attend the groundbreaking, but not yet confirmed, include Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, US Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, Louisiana State Senator Clo. Fontenot, and Louisiana State Representative Dale Erdey, Denham Springs Mayor Jimmy Durbin, other state, City and County elected officials, Bass Pro Shops Founder, Johnny Morris, President Jim Hagale and Bass Pro Shops Director of Conservation Martin Mac Donald.

Video, photo, and interview opportunities will be available with Bass Pro Shops and development officials and local representatives.

The Bass Pro Shops store will be themed to the Denham Springs area and will feature a large aquarium, wildlife dioramas, an 11,430 square foot Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant and a boat service center. The store is expected to add approximately 300 jobs and should bring in thousands of visitors to the area as Bass Pro Shops stores typically attract over 3 million visitors per year.

Media Contact:
Katie Mitchell (417) 860-1483 or Larry Whiteley (417) 873-5022