Bass Pro Shops is opening in Utica, New York on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 after 6:00pm and not a moment of preparation time is being wasted. The noise of buzzsaws, construction vehicles, productive chatter, the rolling of wheels along cardboard-covered tile floors, and a waterfall are all part of the background noise. Wait...a waterfall?  Well, we'll get to that in a minute. The cacophony may make for a difficult interview on site but it is music to his ears of General Manager Joe Chaney.

Bass Pro Shops General Manager Joe Chaney at his desk 10022013 by Kristine Bellino
Bass Pro Shops Utica General Manager Joe Chaney at work Kristine Bellino, WIBX/Townsquare Media
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Yes, a waterfall tops an eleven thousand gallon fish tank.  We are not permitted to show you the tank before the grand opening but we are able to tell you that it is running and enormous.  A local political dignitary is rumored to be putting the first fish in the tank before the opening. Here is what Chaney can tell us about the waterfall and tank: The area housing the tank took about two and a half months to construct and decorate.  A four-member maintenance staff is in charge of the tank.  An outside vendor will take care of the fish and monitor the water.

At sixty-thousand square feet the Utica site is big, but not for Bass Pro Shops.  Chaney says it actually ranks the third smallest store in the company.  The store's flagship location in Springfield, Missouri is about five hundred thousand square feet, which includes about 330,000 square feet of retail space and an on-site museum, permitting it to boast the title "The Granddaddy of all Outdoor Stores."

The Utica location will, nonetheless, employ about two hundred full-time and part-time employees in addition to "pace" employees, hired for special events and occasions.

If you have not received one yet in the mail you can browse the store's "Grand Opening" circular by clicking here.

Want a photo tour?  See below:

Big Crowds Expected Oct. 9th for Utica's New Bass Pro Shop

A simple Google search of 'Bass Pro Shop Grand Opening' comes up with keyword results like 'Capacity Crowds' and 'Long Lines' wherever it opens. The North Utica Bass Pro Shop has scheduled a grand opening for Wednesday, October 9th at 6 p.m. and all indicators point towards a similar large turnout with crowds coming from far away.

(With additional reporting by Andrew Derminio and Jordan McKnight)

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