The time has finally arrived: The Tampa Bay area's first Bass Pro Shops opens this evening in Brandon.
The 130,000-square-foot Outdoor World store at 10501 Palm River Road near Interstate 75 will open at 6 p.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Celebrities, including former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott and race car driver Tony Stewart, will be at the new store to sign autographs until 8:30 p.m.
Other sports stars in attendance will include Boo Weekley, a member of the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team; George Poveromo, host of the George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing television show; billiards star Jeanette Lee; and Peter Miller, three-time world sailfish champion.
Bass Pro Shops sells merchandise for fishing, camping, hunting, boating and other outdoor gear. Customers can expect to find fishing ponds, taxidermy displays and a 7,000-square-foot Islamorada Fish Co. restaurant, which will serve seafood and other entrees, as well as cocktails.
This is the company's 10th store to open in Florida.