When the expected opening of Bass Pro Shops arrives in Leeds in November, it will be an early Christmas gift to consumers.But the long-range effects of the mega-store opening means so much more. Just ask Prattville officials, who have their own Bass Pro Shops economic impact. Less than a year after its opening there, Prattville is seeing a boon to big box retailers and other business developments making their home around the store.
And that’s what Leeds officials had hoped for in the beginning, when it was announced in 2002 that Bass Pro Shops was heading their way. They have held tight to the dream, getting help along the way from the city of Moody and St. Clair County Commission, and it is ready to come to fruition because of that perseverance.
We salute the guiding forces behind this project, and we welcome Bass Pro Shops to the area. As it continues to take shape atop a ridge overlooking Interstate 20, we suspect the growth within its shadow is sure to follow.
