Osage Beach, Mo., small business owners share excitement for Bass Pro Shops coming to the outlet mall redevelopment

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. -Osage Beach small business owners said they are excited for Bass Pro Shops to become the centerpiece of the Osage Beach Outlet Mall redevelopment.

“I like it that we are growing, and it’s a community that is thriving. I think (the redevelopment) is good for everybody,” said Ken Hebner, owner of EC’s Bar and Grill in Osage Beach.

Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison said putting Bass Pro in the outlet mall will create over 125 new jobs in the area and get more money flowing into the city.

“We survive off tax dollars. We’ve been able to survive off tax dollars from other businesses, but this will just be a big tax incentive for the city,” Harmison said. “This will also bring in jobs, more people, and we’re already working on more housing.”

Bass Pro Shops announced plans to open the ninth retail location in its home state of Missouri, with a new location to serve Osage Beach, in the central part of the state near the wildly popular Lake of the Ozarks.

“We literally have a town of about 5,000 people. In the next couple of years, we’re going to have close to $1 billion in development for a small town,” Harmison said.

The 75,000-square-foot retail destination will be a cornerstone of the future redevelopment of Osage Beach Marketplace, located at 4540 Osage Beach Parkway, near Missouri Highway 54 and the Lake of the Ozarks, and is contingent upon city approvals. It is scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

“We are all very excited about this expansion in our home state, and to continue to serve the passionate sportsmen and women of Missouri with everything they need for their outdoor adventures,” said Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops founder. “We have enjoyed serving outdoor enthusiasts for the last 50-plus years, and to help sportsmen and women get everything they need for their trips here in the Ozarks is an absolute honor.”

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