SPANISH FORT, Ala. — As Bass Pro Outdoor World approaches the big grand opening Labor Day weekend, more than 1,600 applicants came to the job fair hosted at the Daphne United Methodist Church Community Life Center last week.

According to officials, Bass Pro Shop is expecting to hire 250-300 employees for both full-time and part-time positions for the store and restaurant. Six hundred applicants made it to phase two of the hiring process. The potential new hires will be contacted next week when final decisions are made.

Joe Bishop, general manager for the Spanish Fort Bass Pro Shop, said he is eager for the new store to open.

“I can’t wait to be part of the community, Bishop said. “Spanish Fort is a great place to be.”

Bishop said he has found numerous potential employees for the new store. Even though the job fair ended last Wednesday, there is still a lot of hiring to be done.

Phase two of the hiring process began June 5 onsite at the Bass Pro Shop and will have the store one step closer to opening. Bishop said the best way to get hiring done for any new business this large is to have a job fair.

“The turnout is always great,” Bishop said.

Human Resources manager of Bass Pro Shop, Melissa King, sat down with Daphne resident Rebekah Cline, 19, for an interview. King was looking for someone who she felt would be the ideal candidate for the position.

”I would like to learn more about the outdoors because I love it and I also love helping people,” said Cline, referring to why she would be the perfect candidate for hire.

The ideal candidate for employment must love the outdoors and have great knowledge to pass on to the customers, Bishop said. For anyone who was unable to attend the job fair, they can still apply online at basspro.com/job. However, online applicants will not be considered for hire until after the store opens, Bishop said.

The 138,000 sq. ft. store will also feature two aquariums inside. There will be a 12,000-gallon saltwater aquarium in the restaurant, and a 22,000-gallon fresh water tank in the store. The tank in the store is set up so you can walk all the way around and get a 360 degree view of the beautiful fish inside. The store is set to fill the tanks in the next two weeks to allow the water the settle before adding the fish, which is scheduled for Aug. 1.

Murals are currently being painted inside the store by artists who are part of the Bass Pro Outdoor World team. Inside, the walls are being painted to replicate pictures of Mobile Bay and Bellingrath Gardens, as well as a realistic underwater fish scene. The store is currently making progress daily and the crew is busy placing taxidermy throughout the store.

Turkeys, bears, deer, boars, alligators, elk and more will be strategically placed throughout giving the store a real outdoor vibe. Seagulls are already flying high from the ceiling, and the trenches are being dug outside for the ponds. The restaurant will have a patio outside where anyone can dine overlooking the ponds. The Islamorada Fish Company will serve up fresh fish, salads, steak, shrimp, sandwiches and several signature dishes.