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SAYREVILLE, NJ – The long-awaited Bass Pro Shops at Sayreville’s Riverton redevelopment appears to be entering its final stretch.

During Thursday’s meeting of the Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Agency (SERA), project leaders said they are increasingly confident the massive outdoor retailer could open by the end of September, with early October remaining a possibility if additional time is needed.

For many residents who have watched construction progress over the past several years, it marks one of the clearest opening timelines shared publicly to date.

“My money is on the end of September, could slip to early October,” said Mark Fetta, who leads the Riverton development team.

Fetta said his confidence has grown considerably since the agency’s previous meeting.

“My confidence level… was probably about 65% at that point. I’m up to about 80, 85,” he said.

According to Fetta, the project has now entered an extensive inspection phase involving what he described as a “20-step program of extremely diligent and detailed inspections” covering both the building itself and surrounding public infrastructure.

Bass Pro Shops Is the Centerpiece of Riverton

Bass Pro Shops serves as the anchor tenant for the first phase of the Riverton redevelopment, a 270-acre project transforming the former industrial waterfront into a mixed-use district featuring retail, residential, office space and public amenities.

Because of its size and visibility, the store has become one of the most anticipated pieces of the redevelopment.

Once open, it is expected to draw visitors from throughout the region while serving as the first major destination within the larger Riverton project.

A Shipwreck Aquarium, Stingrays and an Indoor Archery Range

Project representatives also shared new details about some of the attractions visitors can expect inside the store.

Kevin Polston of the Riverton development team said one of the building’s signature features will be a 65,000-gallon shipwreck-themed aquarium, surrounded by a separate 12,000-gallon stingray tank.

The aquatic exhibits are still being prepared before marine life can be introduced.

“We have to condition that water for 30 days before we can introduce any fish,” Polston explained.

The store will also include an indoor archery range featuring hand-painted murals along the walls, allowing customers to test equipment before purchasing.

A restaurant is also planned inside Bass Pro Shops, although Polston said it is not expected to open with the rest of the store.

Instead, Bass Pro Shops plans to operate the restaurant itself, with a projected opening sometime in the spring of 2027.

Hiring Is Already Underway

The project is also beginning to generate local jobs ahead of opening.

Polston said a recent hiring event attracted enough applicants to result in between 140 and 240 new hires, although the final number is still being confirmed.

“I heard two different numbers, a 140 and 240 employees, so they hired at least 140,” Polston said.

Bass Pro Shops is ultimately expected to employ more than 300 people and plans to hold at least one additional hiring event.

SERA Chairman John Zebrowski said he would like to know how many of those new employees are Sayreville residents.

“That’s important to SERA and to the town,” Zebrowski said.

Powering a Massive Redevelopment

While Bass Pro Shops has drawn much of the public attention, Thursday’s meeting also highlighted the enormous infrastructure required to support the broader Riverton redevelopment.

Fetta said the completed project is expected to require more than 30 megawatts of electricity—roughly ten times the amount currently available at the site when planning first began.

“At the time, the grid had… three megawatts of power available,” Fetta said.

To prepare for future phases of development, SERA approved plans for a new electrical substation and upgraded high-voltage transmission lines during Thursday’s meeting.

Officials said the improvements are intended to ensure the Riverton redevelopment has the electrical capacity needed as additional businesses, housing and commercial buildings are constructed.

A Major Milestone Appears Within Reach

Although work remains before the doors officially open, Thursday’s update suggested the project is closer than ever to welcoming its first customers.

With inspections underway, merchandise being prepared and the store’s signature attractions nearing completion, Bass Pro Shops appears poised to become the first major destination within Sayreville’s long-awaited waterfront redevelopment.

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