New Manager Says Outdoor Store Will Create Environment Where Everyone Can Learn to Enjoy the Outdoors
OutdoorHub 04.22.14
Ronnie Cheeks, the new general manager of the Brandon/Tampa Bass Pro Shops, said the store will create an environment where everyone can learn how to enjoy the outdoors.
“Bass Pro Shops is dedicated to providing an area where adults, kids, women and families can learn skills that will enable them to maximize their outdoor adventures,” said Cheeks.
“Whether they are just beginning in the outdoors or want to learn some new and different skills, they can come to our store and attend free workshops such as beginning fishing, setting up a campsite, Dutch oven cooking, nature photography, fly fishing, hunter education classes, and more.”
The new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Brandon/Tampa is located at Interstate 75 at Palm River Road and will serve the greater Tampa market.
Visitors to the store will be able to shop a huge selection of quality outdoor gear, clothing and accessories from top industry names and at value prices. In addition, the store will feature the world-famous Tracker and Nitro boats.
Cheeks comes to the Brandon/Tampa area from Bossier City, La., where he was the general manager for the Bass Pro Shops store located there. He will lead a staff of 200-250 dedicated professionals from the Brandon/Tampa area who promote the outdoor lifestyle and live it as well.
An avid sportsman himself, Cheeks grew up in the piney woods of north Louisiana where he said hunting and fishing was a way of life. The excitement he experienced catching his first fish in his uncle’s pond is what he hopes to inspire in visitors to the Bass Pro Shops store in Tampa.
He will combine his passion for the outdoors with more than 20 years of experience in retail to fulfill gear and clothing needs for others so they can pursue their own outdoor adventures.
“Focusing on education and our rich conservation heritage in Florida will allow Bass Pro Shops to bring the outdoor experience to everyone,” said Cheeks. “Protecting our outdoor traditions and ensuring we pass them on to our youth is a big priority for our team.”
Bass Pro Shops stores are famous for their free events that are designed to help people learn how to hunt, fish, camp, and take part in other outdoor activities. The Brandon/Tampa store will host several special events throughout the year such as “Family Summer Camp” and Santa’s Wonderland,” which offer families ways to reconnect with the outdoors and spend quality time together.
“The energy and effort that Bass Pro Shops puts into their special events like “Santa’s Wonderland” is invigorating and magical,” said Cheeks. “I’m looking forward to bringing the sheer family fun of Bass Pro Shops to the Tampa market.”
Bass Pro Shops is widely recognized for its support of conservation and outdoor education, and its Brandon/Tampa store will partner with local and regional conservation groups to help manage natural resources and provide opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. In fact, the store’s grand opening will get underway with a special Evening for Conservation event that is free and open to the public. More details about this event, which provides fund raising opportunities on behalf of conservation, will be available in the upcoming months.
For more information about Bass Pro Shops stores, products, events or services, visit www.basspro.com. Keep watching for more information regarding the grand opening events for the Brandon/Tampa store here.
