Bass Pro Shops expects large crowds for Sayreville grand opening
On Wednesday, the barriers, traffic cones, and construction equipment will finally make way for the ribbon-cutting of what will be the largest store of its kind on the entire East Coast. Planning for the expected crowds spanned half a year.
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We are just two days away from the grand opening of the new Bass Pro Shop in Sayreville, and it's expected to bring more than 15,000 people Wednesday evening.
"My entire life that place has just been in production. The billboard has been there for decades," said Sean Donnamaria, of Sayreville.
On Wednesday, the barriers, traffic cones, and construction equipment will finally make way for the ribbon-cutting of what will be the largest store of its kind on the entire East Coast. Planning for the expected crowds spanned half a year.
"Discussion started six months ago and rapidly increased since then over the past few weeks we're meeting with our partners at least twice a day," said Lt. James Novac, of the Sayreville Police Department.
Sayreville police and Bass Pro Shop worked together on finalizing the opening plan - parking and overflow will be on site and across the street at EPIC Church. Visitors can also park at Woodbridge Center or South Amboy Ferry Terminal and catch a free shuttle.
"This whole place was engineered for Bass Pro. I mean off-ramps for the parkway, all specifically for this development going in," said Lt. Novak.
Main Street rush hour traffic with or without Bass Pro Shop moving into town can be challenging, but the locals News 12 spoke with said they're not so worried about extra vehicles on the road. They are more excited about having Bass Pro Shop finally in their own backyard.
Locals like pool store owner Abe Teixeira whose business is about a mile and a half from Bass Pro Shop.
"With a lot of the traffic that is going to go there it's going to bring more customers to us during the season, so we're going to have more cars and more people driving by, so I'm excited about it," said Teixeira.
"You used to have to travel upstate or Pennsylvania to go to Bass Pro, so I think it's going to be good for the town," said Brian Hernandez, of Sayreville.
Police want locals to ride share or carpool, and if you're not attending, try to avoid the area Wednesday afternoon and come into Sayreville using Route 9. Police will be at every local intersection manning the lights to keep traffic moving.
Donnamaria says he's not taking any chances of getting stuck in gridlock opening night.
"I'm personally just thinking of parking somewhere and then walking over. I feel like that's the best way," says Donnamaria.
