I doubt Port Clinton has a snowball's chance. Bass Pro is looking for direct Interstate access and a nearby population center. Port Clinton may get a lot of fishermen, but most of those fishermen live in and around Toledo or another city. I think they'd rather build the store in a place that thousands of fishermen live rather than a place where thousands of fishermen travel.
posted by HeyHey at 11:47 A.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
While I would love to see a Bass Pro Shop located in the Toledo Metro area, Port Clinton does make more sense for a new store.
Not only would the they have the waters of Lake Erie lapping at their doorstep, they would be attracting the tourist patron as well. PC is already well known for its tourist industry. A perfect mesh for a company like BPS who think of themselves more as a major tourist attraction rather then the retail outlet they are.
PC is ideally located about midway between Toledo and Cleveland making it just a short jaunt from either city. With plenty of waterfront property available for the construction of a new Marina to hawk their boats and numerous other Marinas selling watercraft in Port Clinton; along with BPS resources and name recognition they would not have to reach far in attracting the types of customers their demographic studies suggest they need to substain their business. They are already there in abundance.
Who knows, they may even sponsor the Walleye drop on New Years!
posted by KraZyKat at 12:03 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
Brian Weasel Wilson said that Bass Pro sells guns too, is that right?
posted by starling02 at 05:00 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
So far as I know, Bass Pro sells outdoor gear of all kinds, including firearms and ammunition.
posted by madjack at 05:07 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
A perfect location would be in the Sandusky area; capitalize on all of that car traffic.
Those folks in Sandusky know how to do business!
posted by lloyd at 05:57 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
Is anyone familiar with the political climate of Sandusky? Does it consist of mostly D's or R's?
The only thing I remember was council trying to pass a tax on parking (basically a tax ment to get more $$ out of Cedar Point, the only place that charges for parking)
posted by lloyd at 06:14 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
Is anyone familiar with the political climate of Sandusky? Does it consist of mostly D's or R's?
There are slightly more "D's" than "R's". It is what the folks in Columbus call a swing county. It can and will go either way.
posted by MemyselfandI at 06:50 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
Toledo Talk member and former jailed blogger ErieVoices (not to be confused with Erie_Island) apparently lives in Sandusky, but his active and interesting blog called ErieVoices.com no longer exists.
And this interesting March 25, 2006 North Country Gazette story may explain why ErieVoices.com has temporarily gone blanko. What a soap opera.
From last July when ErieVoices was jailed:
"Self-described whistleblower Elsebeth Baumgartner and the editor of a Web site that supports her cause are in jail after a Cuyahoga County grand jury charged them with extortion Monday."
"Baumgartner, a disbarred Oak Harbor attorney, and Bryan Wayne DuBois, 28, Sandusky, also face felony counts of intimidation, possession of criminal tools and retaliation, according to their arrest warrants stemming from the Cuyahoga County indictments. For months, they have posted allegations of corruption among public officials in northern Ohio on DuBois’ Web site."
DuBois is ErieVoices. And now from last week's NCG story:
"Judicial whistleblower Elsebeth Baumgartner of Oak Harbor, former attorney and pharmacist until the powers-that-be, angered by her allegations and substantiation of public corruption, stripped her of her professional licenses, is scheduled to begin trial on 18 criminal charges of intimidation, retaliation, falsification and possession of a criminal tool--a laptop computer--based on the complaint of retired visiting judge Richard Markus for criticizing him."
"She’s been indicted on 14 more counts of intimidation and retaliation for alleged postings on her own blog on complaint of her former business partner who’s a co-defendant in the pending case."
"The complainants in the latest round of charges?"
"None other than her former business partner, Bryan DuBois, 28, and his wife, Mandy, of Sandusky. DuBois is also the co-defendant in the matters scheduled to begin trial Monday and according to court records, DuBois and his wife have become government witnesses against Baumgartner in exchange for a plea deal for DuBois which is expected to be entered Monday."
"It would appear that Baumgartner not only has a strong First Amendment defense but has a prima facie case against the DuBoises for intimidation and retaliation as well as a civil libel and defamation case."
"DuBois was the editor of ErieVoices, a blog which focused on judicial and political corruption in northern Ohio. The blog, website and business was owned by Arbor Group LLC, primarily financed by Baumgartner who also wrote for the site."
"In December, DuBois severed all ties with Baumgartner and in February, removed the website from the Internet although the domain name was registered in the name of Arbor Group of which Baumgartner was a principal."
I wonder if that Arbor Group LLC mention is correct? This website, Arbor Group LLC, is some kind of North Carolina consultancy. Whatever. Enough of that. This might be something for a new thread where the legal people here can decipher what's happening with ErieVoices, Baumgartner, and the government.
posted by jr at 07:11 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
Who cares where Bass Pro decides to go, if they choose Toledo--good!, if they choose Rossford--good!, if they choose Port Clinton--good!, if they choose Timbuktoo--good! It doesn't matter where it goes as long its somewhere in this region. Heaven forbid if anyone work together as a region, the important thing is pro-jobs, pro-economy, pro-lower taxes, and pro-quality of life. Has anyone cared what others need (i.e. employment) instead what's in it for you?
posted by HolyHolyToledo at 07:21 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
ErieVoices was shut down as part of a plea bargain, IIRC.
Figures that PC wants Bass Pro. Didn't any of you hear the plan to put in a f---ing Hilton resort here?
posted by anonymouscoward at 08:09 P.M. EST on Tue Apr 04, 2006 #
Firstly, does anyone have any memory for what Bass Pro's representatives have said? We have to consider their own motivations.
Secondly, placing a gun-selling store Bass Pro close to downtown seems to me like a problem for "Gun-Ban Carty". In fact, when I want to go and buy a gun, I find myself by default heading out of Toledo (the "Anti-Self-Defense Capital of Ohio").
posted by GuestZero at 01:05 A.M. EST on Wed Apr 05, 2006 #
GZ
”Firstly, does anyone have any memory for what Bass Pro's representatives have said? We have to consider their own motivations.”
As I recall, they looked at the vast expanse of land in Wood County that was clearly visible from the helicopter (thanks for that one Carty) and said something like, “Ooh, what’s that land over there by that busy intersection (I-75 & I-280 or I-75 & I-23???)?” Whatever it was it caught his eye, much to Carty’s chagrin…
As for Motivation:
Any self-respecting executive would be aware of the history of the project and the history of the players, come and see what they want you to see, and wait. The other players will surely come out of the woodwork with their offers. Then you let them battle each other and wait for the stakes to be raised and countered, and walk away with the fattest prize.
I’m guessing, of course ;-)
As for Carty's anti-gun attitude, THAT's your ace. When Carty plays the "no guns/ammo" card, you play your "we're walking" card.
Again, I'm guessing but I think that our "ReadyFireAim" mayor is screwed. He NEEDS Bass Pro.
Bass Pro doesn't need Carty (or, us, for that matter), except to maximize the extortion (gimmies).
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 09:51 A.M. EST on Wed Apr 05, 2006 #
My notes about a Frantz February "Eye on Toledo" show:
"Bob said the Bass Pro president was NOT impressed and/or pleased with Toledo's red carpet treatment at the end of January with the marching band, the billboards, McCloskey giving the prez the kitchen sink, and the media attention. The Bass Pro president didn't want this crap."
"He wasn't in northwest Ohio to see Toledo. He was here to see the land out in the Crossroads area of Rossford. He was doing Toledo a favor by taking some time to see the Marina District, but he wanted the Toledo visit to be low-profiled."
"Wood County is the preferred place in the mind of the Bass Pro president. Bob said Wood County and Bass Pro have had discussions for 14 years, and the discussions have grown more serious over the past 2 1/2 years."
"Bob also mentioned that Rossford and Toledo have had a joint economic development zone agreement since 1991. Bob said no one in the Ford administration was aware of this agreement. Bob said Bass Pro is highly interested in being close to the intersection of I-80 and I-75."
14 years of talks? These things do move slowly.
posted by jr at 02:34 P.M. EST on Wed Apr 05, 2006 #
April 5 Ch 13 story:
"[Bass Pro] is reportedly considering land at the Crossroads of America near I-75 and the Ohio Turnpike."
posted by jr at 02:38 P.M. EST on Wed Apr 05, 2006 #
Crossroads of America near I-75 and the Ohio Turnpike
Whup! That's it, then: a DONE DEAL. Bass Pro is clearly choosing the expansion-area route. Carty can't offer that since Toledo is losing population, and the so-called downtown development zone is a freakin' joke compared to nearly everything outside of the Toledo city limits.
I'd pay some serious ka-ching to watch the expression on Bass Pro's rep's face when Carty offers Southwyck as a "crossroads" competitor. "Hey, it's close to the turnpike too! Hyuk hyuk!"
posted by GuestZero at 01:19 A.M. EST on Thu Apr 06, 2006 #
Piss on toledo always to slow and full of B/S and this time all hopes go to rossford for getting bass pro for the screw job carty and gladuiex did to them a few years back.
toledo where ya gonna put it? no75 no795 no20 no 80/90 prime spot crossroads with out a second thought
posted by bigdog75 at 09:32 P.M. EST on Wed May 24, 2006 #
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