Manteca braces for opening of outdoor-gear megastore

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Oct 8, 2008 | by Jennifer Gokhman

Outdoors enthusiasts are most likely counting the days until the new Bass Pro Shops store opens next week in Manteca.

At least 9,000 people are expected to show up to the store each day during its grand opening celebration, Oct. 16 through 19. (The store will actually begin operating a day earlier, at 8 a.m. Wednesday.)

People driving down Highway 120 have seen the 120,000-square- foot store take shape, and on opening day it's expected to draw people from as many as 100 miles away.

The Manteca store will be the chain's first in Northern California and its 53rd store overall.

The chain's only other California store is in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County.

The Manteca store will include a fly fishing shop, a general store, an archery range, a trout pond, a 20,000-gallon aquarium and sales areas offering camping, hunting and fishing equipment as well as boats.

People may be lining up ahead of time to get in, said Larry Leidelmeyer, the Manteca store's promotions manager.

"We have all gone through extensive training for this," Leidelmeyer said, adding that associates from other stores will be helping out the Manteca store's staff, at least for the first five days.

The Manteca Police Department will be monitoring in the area throughout the weekend, Traffic Sgt. Nick Obligacion said.

"There will be no detours," he said. "We'll try to make it convenient for everybody."

The sergeant added that local residents should take different routes to avoid Highway 120 traffic.

The arrival of Bass Pro Shops represents a tremendous opportunity for Manteca, said Assistant City Manager Karen McLaughlin.

"From a financial standpoint, it's going to benefit Manteca," she said. "Beyond that, it's a regional draw."

The Bass Pro Shops store is anchoring the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley. Other businesses there include a hotel, a fitness center, a movie theater, restaurants, JC Penney, Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy.

The grand opening is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 16.

There will be giveaways at the door for the first 200 people with a proof of purchase from opening day through Oct. 19.

The store will have its "soft opening" at 8 a.m. Wednesday. A free "Evening for Conservation" will be held from 5 to 10 p.m.

The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony and a celebrity autograph session, with proceeds benefitting groups such as Ducks Unlimited, the state Department of Fish and Game and California Inland Fisheries.

Celebrities in attendance will include NASCAR driver Walley Dallenbach, professional angler and TV host Jimmy Houston, 2008 Olympic BMX Racing Bronze medalist Donny Robinson, former Los Angeles Lakers basketball players and Oakland Raiders cheerleaders.

For more information, visit www.basspro.com.

Reach Jennifer Gokhman at 209-832-6144

or jgokhman@bayareanewsgroup.com.