Big box retailers chasing residential growth in St. Johns

Three new big box retailers will soon open in St. Johns County.  As the local population has grown, new demand has been created along State Road 210 and World Golf Parkway.  

Bass Pro Shops at 355 World Commerce Parkway in St. Augustine hosted a grand opening party in November. The 100,000-square-foot store is in the massive retail center west of Interstate 95 and south of Buc-ee's and Costco.

Todd Blanchard, Bass Pro's general manager, said the new store is two years in the making following a search that began in Northeast Florida 10 years ago. "We picked St. Augustine because the area is growing and because of the location's visibility from I-95," he told the St. Augustine Record. "Once the agreement was in place, we moved forward quickly and broke ground last December."

BJ's Wholesale Club will soon open on State Road 210 in the Beachwalk community. Earlier in the year, BJ's opened a membership center at 124 Beachwalk Blvd., with a 104,298 square-foot store and an on-site gas station. 

This BJ's will be its 41st in the state, joining four other stores in Northeast Florida: River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville; Atlantic Boulevard in East Arlington; Philips Highway near Baymeadows; and Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park. The company also has a distribution center in West Jacksonville.

Home Depot is completing construction of its 107,896-square-foot building and 28,118-square-foot garden center. The site is west of Interstate 95 at World Commerce and International Golf parkways. The Home Depot would display merchandise along the front apron of the store, which faces International Golf Parkway. A tool rental center with outdoor storage for rental equipment is proposed. A seasonal sales area of 8,885 square feet is also proposed next to the garden center for sales events throughout the year, including Christmas tree sales.

Atlanta-based Home Depot has other stores in St. Johns County: The Pavilion at Durbin Park and 1750 U.S. 1 S. in St. Augustine.