By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

It’s one of the most anticipated retailers to appear since the debut of the Mall at University Town Center and the beginning steps in the remaking of Southgate Mall.

But exactly when the first Bass Pro Shops to hit Southwest Florida will arrive remains cloudy at best.

No official permits have been filed with Sarasota County to start construction on the proposed site, and emails between county government employees and the retailer’s real estate division seem to suggest that Bass Pros’ targeted 2016 opening date may be pushed back.

Bass Pro Shops officially announced in July that the company will open an 80,000-square-foot Outpost store and anchor a new 260,000-square-foot retail center called “Fruitville Commons,” off Interstate 75. The popular outdoor-focused retailer’s arrival had been rumored for more than a year.

At the time, Bass Pro officials were vague about the opening date. They said that the new store — which will employ 200 people and have a restaurant and bowling alley attached — could open any time in 2016.

Read more here.