Bass Pro Shops plans Outdoor World just off I-95 in St. Johns County

[thelakelander]

As you drive south along Interstate 95, you won’t be able to miss Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, if plans play out.

Details filed in St. Johns County show that Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World wants to build just south of the new Costco Wholesale Club along World Commerce Parkway, west of Interstate 295.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/may/17/bass-pro-shops-plans-outdoor-world-just-off-i-95-in-st-johns-county/

[marcuscnelson]

Surprised by this move. Seems like there’d been a lot of hope for the Durbin Park site for a long time.

However, World Commerce Center does make plenty of sense. Direct I-95 access instead of going via another highway, plenty of similar big box stores like Costco and Bucc’ees nearby, still has a lake for the boats.

I get the sense that that whole area’s road layout is really poorly designed to only be navigable via car, though. International Golf Parkway is going to be an insane bottleneck pretty soon, especially once CR 2209 has more direct access and all the big suburbs keep getting built out.

[jaxlongtimer]

^ I think it reflects the southerly movement of St. Johns County "center of population" with Silverleaf, etc. coming on board.  Only a matter of time until, like south Florida, that there is one long "city" from Jacksonville to Daytona.  And, as you note, this picks up I-95 directly.

It appears that the Peyton development is mainly going to cater to residents living in northern St. Johns County and south Duval.  Not much there that would be "destination" shopping for a wider area as most of its stores can be found scattered about NE Florida, unlike, say the luxury stores and high end restaurants at Town Center.

[fsquid]

Surprised by this move. Seems like there’d been a lot of hope for the Durbin Park site for a long time.

However, World Commerce Center does make plenty of sense. Direct I-95 access instead of going via another highway, plenty of similar big box stores like Costco and Bucc’ees nearby, still has a lake for the boats.

I get the sense that that whole area’s road layout is really poorly designed to only be navigable via car, though. International Golf Parkway is going to be an insane bottleneck pretty soon, especially once CR 2209 has more direct access and all the big suburbs keep getting built out.

2209's extension has been open for at least a year.

[thelakelander]

The new site has way better access to I-95 than the Race Trac Road location. I never understood what they saw in that Race Trac Road site, other than getting incentive money from St Johns County, since that was a no go in Duval.

[Jax_Developer]

^ I think it reflects the southerly movement of St. Johns County "center of population" with Silverleaf, etc. coming on board.  Only a matter of time until, like south Florida, that there is one long "city" from Jacksonville to Daytona.  And, as you note, this picks up I-95 directly.

It appears that the Peyton development is mainly going to cater to residents living in northern St. Johns County and south Duval.  Not much there that would be "destination" shopping for a wider area as most of its stores can be found scattered about NE Florida, unlike, say the luxury stores and high end restaurants at Town Center.

Totally agree with this.

[simms3]

Surprised by this move. Seems like there’d been a lot of hope for the Durbin Park site for a long time.

However, World Commerce Center does make plenty of sense. Direct I-95 access instead of going via another highway, plenty of similar big box stores like Costco and Bucc’ees nearby, still has a lake for the boats.

I get the sense that that whole area’s road layout is really poorly designed to only be navigable via car, though. International Golf Parkway is going to be an insane bottleneck pretty soon, especially once CR 2209 has more direct access and all the big suburbs keep getting built out.

2209's extension has been open for at least a year.

2209 is being extended south from Silverleaf Pkwy across SR-16 and down to SR-208 and beyond.  In fact its extension from Silverleaf down to SR-16 forms a triangular parcel that has 6 outparcels along 16 and apartments in the back.  I think it's delayed, but the point is that 2209 is far from being completed.  Right now it "dead ends" with the intersection of Silverleaf Pkwy where Baptist is supposed to build something, but it's going to be extended way far down.

SR-16 is supposed to be widened to 4 lanes as well but St. Johns County is one of the most poorly managed counties in the region and even though they have the impact fees sitting in the bank to do a whole lot of infrastructure projects, they only ever end up partially funding design/engineering work and never get around to actually doing anything (and then all the Facebook groups blame the developers on everything and the elected county commissioners respond to the public pressure even though it's collectively their fault for many of the problems).  Rant over...

This is a far superior location for Bass Pro and I always thought they would end up here.  I also think this basically "completes" the World Commerce Center commercial component, or almost does.  There is still plenty of opportunity for Durbin Park Phase 2 and beyond to get some destination retail/dining in there.  Bass Pro is a highway drive up store.  It's better here even than at Town Center as it is right up along I-95.  It's like Buccee's in that sense and the two are two peas in a pod right there.

[Jason]

The trees are coming down....  Looks like this project is a "GO"

[acme54321]

Yep I was down there today and they were doing land clearing in the parcel but west of the site location for the building shown in the site olan.  They were on the west side of the canal that is shown.

[Florida Power And Light]

Classic Beltway Development Connection.
Perhaps Pro Shops will scale back “ Hunting” section.
Huge swaths of presently appearing “ Undeveloped “ lands ( and likely “ Boring” to many here....)
are headed  towards or commitment to Growth Managed Development. Some area lands could have gone to Public Conservation Use.... including Hunt. It’s all About The Merchandising!)
It’s always been a ‘ Mystery’ why “ Jacksonville “ has been absent a Bass Pro Location.
Maybe more to be revealed.
Durban Park site might possibly be a “ Tract” once envisioned per State Conservation and Recreation Lands action proposal as.... undeveloped. 6800 Acres.Former State Public Land Purchase proposal.
This whole thing has Delaney Administrative efforts- “ Public/ Private” Conservation initiative clearly logged.
Skip it- none of this is Credible News.
Let’s Feast On A Banquet Of Consequences.
View with “ Alarm”.
Skip it.
Some should simply move to Northern California ( as one simple example). Huge public lands complex. Skip
the Retail experience.
Northeast Florida!...... Where South Florida Begins!
( Sorry Jacksonville Public Land users.... South Florida Beats Us.... and the Lauderdale Bass Pro has been Wonderful)
Next!?.... Let’s see how “ Bass Pro” Transforms Welaka....

[pierre]

Looks like it’s official. 2024 opening according to the Bass Pro Shops.

[Florida Power And Light]

There are a lot of fish and wildlife creatures that don’t have much to look forward to……Merchandising!
Gosh knows how much money I have spent at Bass Pro. Firearms, clothing, camping, gadgets and gilhilkies, plain junk, fishing.
Thank God for Sportsman Warehouse Mail Order.
I used to really enjoy a Bass Pro store Bar in South Florida.