DuckSouth.com

I know nobody wants to drive to Memphis but I would highly recommend checking out the new bass pro. Once you get past the ordeal of actually getting in the door and past the rednecks looking at all the fish go upstairs to the big ducks unlimited section. Lots of neat history of duck hunting.

As I was observing all the people walking out as we were trying to get in I noticed only maybe 1 in every 30 people actually had a bag. Lots of people but it doesn't look like they are selling a lot.

I went up there and left disappointed personally, and here's why- they have no more merchandise there than they do at the east Memphis location. I went up there looking for a long sleeve bottomland tee-shirt. They had no bottomland camo whatsoever, and very little mossy oak at all. I would just think that the largest Bass Pro in the world would have everything you could think of in terms of hunting apparel, but it's not so. I feel like they were way more interested in hype (hotels, bowling allies, artificial swamps, free standing elevators, etc) than merchandise and selection. Just my two cents.

Maybe they'll get them stocked in the future. They've ony been talking about opening the damn thing for 15 years.

Ya if I was looking to buy something I would have been disappointed probably. I'm sure it will be a lot better when the new wears off.

Thus the reason I quit going in any bass pro. They are all about fishing. I can go in there looking for specific items and come out empty handed.

I worked at the Cordova (other Memphis location) almost 15 years ago when it opened in the summer of college. That store made/makes more money than any other Bass Pro. The reason? It has every bit of merchandise the big stores have (pretty much) but it's a fraction the size. It's an old Wal-Mart building. There's no elaborate decorations or major upfront costs when they set it up. There aren't nearly as many employees working there as a bigger Bass Pro either. My thought is that this big one will lose money (on the retail side) but I think the other attractions it has, and will have will probably allow them to break even. Plus the city of Memphis gave them a ton of money. Johnny Morris, like most successful billionaires who built their wealth of a long period of time, are not in the business of losing money.

Thats like getting mad at HOME Depot for not having any camping supplies.

I stayed at Big Cypress Lodge in the Pyramid a few days ago. It is first class, really impressive. The bowling alley is nice. The restaurant at the top is going to be super nice when it opens june 1. Views up there are great. If you were looking to take your old lady on a nice weekend this would be a great place.

Todo I noticed people sitting on their balconies of the big cypress lodge and was wondering if they were quiet or if you could hear the commotion of thousands of people outside your door?

Cabela's in Huntsville opening this Fall.