Fresno Famous

The one name to come out of the dog and pony show in Las Vegas is Bass Pro. That's "America's most popular outdoor store," not Guitar Center's rival.

This is a violently bad idea for many, many reasons. First, it's an "outdoor store," as in nature. They're suggesting it might be a good fit for downtown, as in "inner city." Hello? "Let's all go downtown tonight. We'll visit some galleries, look at the skyscrapers, and buy some ammo!" Deer heads and tents don't fit in an urban environment. Do we need a large gun shop downtown?

Who wants to live in close proximity to Bass Pro? Surely some people would love it, but they are not the same people who want to live downtown. Our guess is that they are men and families. Downtown is not a place for families. It's a place for young professional people and poor creative types. Few families are going to give up their northern yards, and we'd venture a guess that a mixed use project centered around a camping store is going to fall short of the indie yuppie's expectations.

Who wants to do business next to Bass Pro? "Yes, I decided to open my new avant-garde jazz club across the street from Bass Pro because we share the same foot traffic." Wal Mart wants to do business next to Bass Pro. BJ's Kountry Kitchen wants to do business next to Bass Pro. Galleries, bars, clubs, upscale restaurants, and vegetarians do not want to do business next to Bass Pro.

Can Fresno leaders not imagine Fresno as a "destination" unto itself? Must we always be Fresno Yosemite International? Can we imagine making Fresno a city that stands up on its own, instead of one that has to frame itself by its proximity to destinations that are actually worth going to? Tom Boyajian said he would like this development to speak to what Fresno is all about. A $400 million development anchored by Bass Pro would speak volumes.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the City is intent on suburbanizing downtown, and it won't work. Who knows what other retailers the city is talking to. Quite frankly, the idea of Bass Pro saddens us so much we can't muster the will to care.