Bass Pro Shops Brings Experiential Retail to San Diego

San Diego Draws Experiential Retail Anchors

Bass Pro Shops is expanding its experiential footprint with plans for its first San Diego-area store, according to CoStar News. The 148,000-SF location will take over the former Macy’s space at Grossmont Center in La Mesa, targeting a 2028 opening. The announcement comes as many retailers downsize their physical presence, but Bass Pro is betting on large-format, high-engagement venues to draw families and outdoor enthusiasts.

This move arrives as San Diego’s retail scene is tightening. CoStar reports that regional retail availability fell in Q2 2026 for the first time in a year, hitting around 6.8M SF—below historical norms. Redevelopment and limited new supply are reducing tenant options, making anchor leases like this more pivotal for mall owners repositioning older properties.

Bass Pro Shops’ Big-Box Experience Playbook

Bass Pro pioneered experiential retail with attractions like aquariums, taxidermy displays, and sporting demonstrations. The Grossmont Center location will become its sixth California store and 182nd nationally. CEO Johnny Morris cited San Diego’s fishing culture as a key driver for expansion.

Federal Realty called Bass Pro a transformative tenant for the 64-year-old center. CoStar reports just 50,000 SF of retail is under construction for lease locally. Meanwhile, nearly 400,000 SF of older retail space is slated for housing conversion in 2025. Bass Pro’s large-format commitment runs counter to the industry’s shift toward smaller stores.

The Details

The planned store will span 148,000 SF and incorporate Bass Pro’s signature interactive features—such as large aquariums, hunting and fishing gear, and themed exhibits—mirroring its recently opened (or soon-to-open) outposts in New Jersey, Arizona, Arkansas, and New York, some of which push above 200,000 SF. At Grossmont Center, Bass Pro will help fill a void left by departing legacy anchors and benefit from proximity to high-traffic retailers like Target and Walmart.

Population density and freeway access were key factors in site selection. La Mesa’s demographics and the mall’s location near major thoroughfares position the store to draw from a broader catchment than traditional big-box retail alone. While Federal Realty did not announce specific lease terms, Bass Pro is expected to serve as a long-term catalyst for the ongoing repositioning of the Grossmont Center campus.

Nationwide Expansion Amid Store Format Shifts

Bass Pro’s nationwide expansion comes as most big-box peers are trimming or retooling footprints in response to ecommerce and shifting consumer preferences. While brands like Lego have incorporated smaller, interactive concepts to fuel a 12% sales bump, Bass Pro continues to lead with scale, betting that high-touch, immersive retail can still drive traffic.

The company’s recent hospitality investments, such as the Johnny Morris Nature Resorts platform and Cheeca Lodge and Spa acquisition, underscore a broader shift toward experience portfolios. JLL analysts note that customers increasingly favor ‘memorable experiences and personalized brand interactions’—a strategy that has helped destination concepts capture family outings and group events that pure online retail cannot replicate.

Why It Matters

Bass Pro’s investment at Grossmont Center challenges the idea that retail must shrink to remain competitive. JLL reported in 2026 that experiential retail is becoming central to anchor strategies.

The store could strengthen traffic at a time of limited new retail supply in San Diego. CoStar reported just 50,000 SF of retail under construction in Q2 2026. Local officials view the project as a key part of Grossmont Center’s revitalization.

Experiential brands like Bass Pro, Ikea, and Dave & Buster’s continue expanding large-format concepts. Their success could influence future mall redevelopment strategies across the region.

What’s Next

Bass Pro’s Grossmont Center project follows several recent large-format commitments by the retailer. The company plans new stores in New Jersey, Kentucky, Texas, and New York. Local brokers expect the project to become a test case for mall reinvention.

San Diego’s limited retail pipeline could support more experiential retail concepts. Competition for large, well-located sites is likely to intensify. Other landlords will closely watch whether destination retail can offset anchor losses.