A vacant department-store box at the north end of Oakbrook Square Shopping Center in Palm Beach Gardens may soon trade dust bunnies for fishing lures. A proposed Bass Pro Shops would take over the empty building with a two-story outdoor retail destination and a smaller outparcel that includes outdoor seating. If it gets the green light, the project would reshape the plaza’s parking layout and give the façade a Coastal Key West look.
Plan details and design
Site plans obtained by WPTV show an application dated April 6 that calls for a two-story, 80,430 square foot Bass Pro Shops at the center’s north end. The filing outlines parking improvements and describes upgrades to the plaza’s architectural character using a Coastal Key West style. It also identifies a separate 5,700 square foot outparcel with outdoor seating, positioned next to existing outparcels.
What would be torn down and design specifics
The plan would clear out the long-empty Jacobson’s and Stein Mart building on the north side of the plaza to make room for the new store, according to Stet News. Stet’s review of the documents notes that the store footprint breaks down to about 45,737 square feet on the first floor and 34,693 square feet on the second. Parking would be reconfigured to tap into underused lots north of the site, and the property owner is seeking waivers that would allow additional signage and a taller flagpole.
Shoppes of Oakbrook today
The Shoppes of Oakbrook, at 11586 U.S. Highway One at PGA Boulevard, currently features a Publix, CVS, Duffy’s Sports Grill, Chipotle and Starbucks, according to Regency Centers. Regency’s listing describes the center as roughly 183,452 square feet with an “anchor tenant coming soon” space at the north end. The proposed Bass Pro Shops would fill the portion of the plaza that aligns with the former department-store footprint.
Next steps and local history
The application will first be reviewed by city staff, then head to the Planning and Zoning board and the City Council, as reported by The Palm Beach Post. The Post also notes that Bass Pro previously set its sights nearby in 2014, purchasing the Carl’s Furniture Plaza property before selling it in 2018 after those plans stalled. That earlier effort underscores a long-running push to land a major outdoors retailer in northern Palm Beach County.
Nearest Bass Pro and regional context
The closest Bass Pro Shops for local shoppers right now is in Port St. Lucie at 2250 Gatlin Blvd, according to Bass Pro’s store directory. Local coverage has also highlighted that REI is open in downtown Palm Beach Gardens and that Dick’s Sporting Goods has eyed space at The Gardens Mall, signaling heightened interest from outdoor and sporting retailers in the area. For additional details on the Palm Beach Gardens proposal and site plans, see Stet News.
With plans now public, the project is set to move through the city’s review pipeline and could be adjusted during staff review and public hearings at the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board and City Council, according to The Palm Beach Post. City staff and elected officials will weigh the requested waivers and design changes before deciding whether to grant final approvals.
