Bass Pro Shops Sayreville: Fall opening date and new details revealed

UPDATE — June 21, 2026: The wait finally has an answer, sort of. Bass Pro Shops confirmed this week that the Sayreville store is targeting a fall 2026 opening, and the company released a wave of new details about what is actually going to be inside when the doors open.

This is going to be big. At 200,000 square feet, the Sayreville location will be the largest single-level Bass Pro Shops in the United States. The centerpiece is an aquarium experience unlike anything else in the state: a 65,000-gallon Shipwreck Aquarium paired with a 12,000-gallon ray touch pool, live jellyfish, and an interactive Sketch Aquarium designed for kids. This is not a typical sporting goods store layout. The aquarium is designed to transport kids of all ages into an underwater world while highlighting the importance of conservation, according to the company. 

The store will carry the boat brands Bass Pro is known for nationally. Industry-leading boat brands including Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Sun Tracker, Regency, Ascend, Tahoe, Triton, Mako and Hatteras will be on the floor, along with the Tracker Off Road lineup of ATVs and side-by-sides. 

The store is also hiring, and hiring big. Bass Pro expects to bring on more than 300 employees for the Sayreville location, with a hiring event scheduled at the Sheraton Edison on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you have been looking for a reason to get into outdoor retail, this is it. 

As for the exact opening date, Bass Pro is still only saying fall. No specific month, no firm date. The store will anchor the Riverton complex, the 400-acre development going up along the Raritan River and Raritan Bay at the Sayreville exit off the Garden State Parkway, visible to anyone crossing the Driscoll Bridge. A QuickChek and Starbucks are also planned for the site, and Sayreville's town hall may eventually relocate there as well. 

We will keep watching for the actual date. Given the traffic this story keeps pulling, you are clearly watching too.

A rendering of the 65,000-gallon Shipwreck Aquarium planned for the new Bass Pro Shops Sayreville location. (Bass Pro Shops)

UPDATE — June 12, 2026: Still no official grand opening date, but the picture is getting clearer. Reports now point to a summer 2026 opening rather than the spring window originally floated, and the building itself has continued to take shape along the Garden State Parkway near the Driscoll Bridge. Bass Pro Shops will anchor the broader Riverton development, which is also set to bring a QuickChek and a Starbucks to the site — and Sayreville's town hall may eventually relocate there as well. We're not the only ones watching closely. Sayreville residents have been asking the same question in local Facebook groups, with at least one person reaching out to Bass Pro's Instagram directly for an answer. We'll keep updating this page as soon as an actual date is confirmed.

UPDATE — May 16, 2026: Bass Pro Shops Sayreville was slated to open in Spring 2026, and as of this update, the exterior of the building is complete and visible to commuters passing the Riverton development off the Garden State Parkway near the Driscoll Bridge. However, no official grand opening date has been announced. Spring is running out — we will update this page the moment a date is confirmed. 

If you work at Riverton or have heard something about an opening date, let us know.

The original story continues below.

If you’re into the outdoors here in New Jersey, you might want to mark your calendar for this spring. Central Jersey is finally getting its first Bass Pro Shops — a major destination for everything from fishing rods to hiking boots and more. The new store is going up off the Garden State Parkway in Sayreville’s Riverton development and is set to open this spring, giving outdoor lovers a closer place to gear up without a long drive.

Bass Pro Shops coming to Sayreville brings a long-awaited Central Jersey outdoor hub

For a long time, the only Bass Pro Shops in the state has been in Atlantic City, and before this, most of us willing to make a serious outdoor gear run would head to Cabela’s in Hamburg, PA. That trip always felt like an event — not just a quick stop for a new jacket or pair of hiking boots, but a whole experience with all the sights, sounds, and gear that make getting outdoors fun.

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More than a store: Why Bass Pro Shops feels like an outdoor destination

And that’s exactly the vibe Bass Pro delivers. These stores are more than retail outlets; they’re immersive outdoor destinations. Walk in, and you’ll find huge selections of gear for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, and more — from rods, reels, lures, and tackle to boots, weatherproof jackets, and footwear for every season. Many Bass Pro Shops also offer boats, marine accessories, outdoor cooking equipment, packs and backpacks, and even home or cabin décor inspired by nature.

But it’s not just products. Bass Pro stores are known for bringing the outdoors indoors with displays like massive aquariums, wildlife mounts, and themed murals that celebrate local outdoor life. The idea is to make it feel like you’re already in nature the moment you step through the door. Some locations even offer fishing demonstrations, seasonal family events like “Gone Fishing,” and workshops that teach outdoor skills and conservation.

A personal connection to hiking, fishing, and family time outdoors

That’s why I’m so pleased to see this store coming closer to Central New Jersey. I love the outdoors — hiking in particular — and our family spends a ton of time in nature. Even though I wouldn’t call myself an active hunter these days, I’ve done my fair share over the years. Lately, fishing with my son and daughter has become something I’m really excited about trying together this spring. There’s nothing quite like sharing a hobby with your kids and being out in nature as a family.

Why a Bass Pro Shops in Central Jersey just makes sense

We already have our cabin up in Sullivan County, PA, and one of our favorite spots to hit is Worlds End State Park, where hiking trails and scenic views never get old. And while we’ve always made the trek out to Hamburg for that classic Cabela’s outdoors trip, having Bass Pro Shops in Sayreville means that when we need gear — whether it’s hiking boots, a cold-weather camo suit, or some fishing tackle — we have a great new option!

So as spring rolls in, I’m not just looking forward to casting a line with the kids — I’m looking forward to walking through those doors and seeing what new gear and inspiration await right here in Central Jersey.