ODESSA, Texas — Bass Pro Shops has changed its plans to build a location in Midland. It will now be located in Odessa.
The company said it has forged an agreement with John Bushman and ICA Development for a location between Yukon Rd. and Mission Blvd. This would front Highway 191 in Midland County, adjacent from the Cinergy Family Entertainment Center. The location will on a 16-acre tract of land.
The previous location was in Midland but Bass Pro Shops says the new location in Odessa will "allow for an expanded experience and assortment for its customers while conveniently serving the entire Permian Basin Region."
"Odessa, often referred to as the City of Light and Love, is on the cusp of a bright and promising future," the City of Odessa said in a press release. "The unity and collaboration demonstrated by John Bushman, ICA Development LLC, the City of Odessa, and the Odessa Development Corp. serve as a shining example of what can be achieved when a community works together towards a common goal. With this new development, Odessa is poised to become a thriving hub of commerce and opportunity."
The newest location would be the company's 17th store in Texas. The company says it will plan to serve the Odessa and Midland market. The new design would allow the company to expand from 65,000 square ft. to 100,000 square ft.
Midland Mayor Lori Blong put out a statement on the Bass Pro Shops announcement:
"The Midland Development Corporation, the City of Midland, and Midland County team have worked diligently together in negotiation with Bass Pro Shops for some time. While we would have preferred the location in Midland, we are pleased to see Bass Pro Shops still coming to our region with their announcement.
For the City of Midland, this means we will have access to destination retail only eight miles away from their previously planned site. We also now have the added benefit of freedom to reallocate the capital that had been committed to the Bass Pro Midland project to other priorities for the benefit of our community. As MDC’s Sara Harris has said, 'The City of Midland and Midland Development Corporation negotiated an incentive package with Bass Pro Shops that yielded optimal return on investment of taxpayer funds. Bass Pro Shops ultimately chose a location in a neighboring community.'
Our Midland City Council and MDC have demonstrated repeatedly that we are committed to prudent investment in quality-of-life assets." - Lori Blong, Midland mayor
The new location is expected to open in spring of 2025.