DENVER-City officials, Forest City Enterprises Inc. and Bass Pro Shops representatives held a topping-off ceremony on Wednesday, where construction workers placed the final truss in the roof structure of the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The store is currently under construction north of Interstate 70 at Forest City's redevelopment of the former Stapleton International Airport. The 180,000-sf outdoor store will anchor NorthField at Stapleton, a 1.2-million-sf lifestyle, entertainment, and retail center. The store is scheduled to open Nov. 10.

In addition to the retail portion, the Bass Pro will have museum, art gallery, educational, conservation and entertainment components. The Denver Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is being designed to highlight the "local flavor" of Colorado's outdoor heritage. For example, its outdoor heritage center will include state record fish and wildlife exhibits and historical pictures and artifacts from local hunters and fishermen.

"Our goal is to make NorthField at Stapleton a reflection of Denver's residents and their many interests, which includes celebrating the great outdoors in style only the way Bass Pro Shops can do, " says Emerick Corsi, executive vice president, Forest City Commercial Development.

Bass Pro Shops' visitors can shop a huge selection of fishing, hunting, camping and marine items, and visit clothing, gift and footwear departments. The store will also include a large showroom and boat service center. The store will employ about 250 people. It will offer free outdoor skills workshops for adults, kids and families that will help maximize outdoor fun by teaching new skills and improving existing ones. Headquartered in Springfield, MO, Bass Pro Shops currently has 27 locations in 17 states across the US and one location in Canada. The company says the stores attract more than 75 million visitors a year.