Bass Pro Shops — Attraction in West Chester Township

I don't normally get online to write reviews about my experiences, but as a Cincinnati area native I just have to talk about my first experience at the new Bass Pro Shops Store in West Chester.

I drive past the new store location every day to work and have been wondering what kind of store was being built over the past 8-12 months. I didn't care so much to look it up, I just thought a new Sporting Goods, Sam's Club, or some other warehouse store was being put up. Once I found out it was a brand new Bass Pro, I was excited! We were finally getting a new location detached from the Cincinnati Mall that was failing. With that I was excited for all the opportunities that would bring to the area. I was hoping that Bass Pro would really knock this store out of the park. They did not, I was incredibly disappointed.

The new store is NOT comparable to the old store other than the products that are sold. Growing up as a kid, my dad would take my brother and I to Bass Pro in the Cincinnati Mall. It was a fun experience every time! From the large aquarium in the middle of the store, to the play shooting range and arcade, it was really a place to enjoy time while our dad meddled over which fishing lure to buy. Even just looking around all of the walls in the store, filled with easter eggs and decor you would only dream of having in a log cabin. I just cannot express my disappointment enough about the new store and the failure to capture what was really special about the old one. Our Christmas’ as kids were always filled with gifts from Bass Pro! With the closing of the old store, I feel ashamed that I didn't act quick enough to share my experience as a kid with my Wife and now 1.5 year old son.

I had good conversations with some of the employees of the new store. That is what made me most disappointed. All of the hard working employees of the old store that came over felt the SAME WAY! As an employee and with all this opportunity, I would feel BETRAYED. They have to come into work at this place with little to no soul from where they once came. I just feel sorry for them.

Overall, I feel that I no longer want to visit this store as it would taint the memories we made at the old one. I just can't express enough how badly they missed the mark with the new store. I hope they have the courage to admit that they messed up and do everything they can to return what the old store had.

TLDR: The store is not exciting. No arcade shooting range, tiny aquarium, no archery range that i could find, smaller than the old store, less decoration, poor layout, no restaurant that was rumored.. I feel that I need to visit the Pyramid to show my family what a Bass Pro is...

Was hopeful and kindve excited to check out this new Bass Pro. Walked in and wanted to walk right back out… This place is an absolute disgrace to the Bass Pro off of Winton Rd. It’s half the size, actually not even half the size considering there’s no second level!!! Fancy front entrance makes it look exciting then you go in and it’s like an overrated Dicks Sporting Goods. Like a dull bland industrial warehouse. Theres no fun activities for kids that i could see. No cozy homey area with cabin like decor nothing that would make a kids eyes just blow up like The original one on Winton would. The one on winton had a 100 times more things in stock and options for what you were looking for and had stuff geared towards the outdoorsman and the hunters and fisherman. This new one isn’t geared towards real outdoorsman and what we all know and love of our Fairfield Bass Pro. Hardly any decorations or anything. Actually kindve sick to my stomach over the thought of not getting to go to a real bass pro anymore. Whoever was in charge of the build plans and made the decisions on this new one has no clue what they are doing and can’t even fathom the disappointment and heartbreak the people in my area have over our beloved Winton Rd. Bass Pro Shops to this new abomination. You guys should be ashamed of this place honestly. All the money you spent and all the time you took you could’ve maybe made an even better one than the original but instead you opted to turn it into an overrated dicks and gear this place more towards city slickers that just wanted more options and it’s the most boring bass pro i’ve ever walked into. I could go on forever about how disappointed and upset i am with this place. Do not recommend anyone to go to this place. Do not waste your time if you want to see it just go to the new cabela’s it’s almost the same except it’s bigger and has a better feel to it. I’ll never walk in this place again unless they decide to make it like our original Winton Rd. Bass Pro Shops. Did i mention this place is a disappointing disgrace? That’s all, you’ve lost a lifelong customer until you make some real changes. For now Cabela’s will be my choice from now on even though it’s the same company and they’re taking my money either way i’m hoping it still proves some of my point. This new world is sickening. Kids will never know what a real Bass Pro should look like and it’s the saddest thing in the world that they will never get to experience the true excitement and adventure Bass Pro Shops was known for. If i could rate it a 0 i would. Hope this was helpful. Sorry no pictures, they weren’t worth taking and now i’m sad i don’t have pictures of the Original off...

I've shopped at this Bass Pro Shops location twice now and I will not be shopping there a third time. The first time I was looking for a spool of flurocarbon leader. I looked through the entire wall of flurocarbon line and didn't see any so I asked one of the nearest employees. I told the employee what I was looking for and he looked at me like I was stupid and said "do you mean tippet material?" I said no, I mean flurocarbon leader. I was then told that there is no such thing. Any fisherman reading this will know how absurd that is. I hadn't intended to ship there again after that experience. However I recently broke my BFS rod and had a fishing trip coming up. I wanted to have a BFS rod to take with me on the trip and didn't have time to purchase one online and wait for one to be delivered. So I went back looking for a replacement rod. I tried looking for the rod myself but the sheer volume of rods available was a little overwhelming so I sought out an employee. The first gentleman I found was actually very nice but he told me it was only his second day and he didn't know where everything was located but he could take me to someone who could help. He took me over to an older gentleman and I explained what I was looking for. He just stared at me like I was stupid and never said anything. I realize BFS is still a fairly new niche in the states (with a very large demand) so I explained what BFS is. The gentleman told me they didn't carry anything like that. He was very rude and was clearly irritated I was asking him for help. So I asked if he could just point me in the direction of some bass oriented finesse or light action rods. He said they didn't have those either. At that point the first gentleman stepped in and said he would help me look. We went to the St. Croix rod section and within a minutes located several different BFS specific models. I took the rod to the front of the store to checkout and the cashier was another older gentleman who was just as rude. He was so rough with the rod while taking of the security tag I thought for sure the tip would be broken before I even had the chance to buy it. I realize that not all employees at Bass Pro Shops will have extensive fishing knowledge or know of every product they offer in the store. But I do expect to be treated with respect and for the employees to at least attempt to help. I have condensed my review for the sake of space but my experience at Bass Pro Shops was absolutely terrible and I will not be...