ST. LOUIS — The region is in an outdoor retail renaissance.
Over the past year, three local shops have opened within eight miles of each other, stocking camping gear, climbing holds and canoes for adventurous St. Louisans. A new chain outlet has arrived. And now two existing franchises are adding second locations.
The St. Louis area is coming into its own as a hub for outdoor recreation, said Brad Kovach, editor of St. Louis-based Terrain Magazine. And there’s still room to grow.
“Competition will breed more interest,” Kovach said. “Instead of splitting a pie into smaller pieces, they’re going to make a bigger pie.”
The rush of openings reflects a local industry scrambling to catch up with surging interest and increased opportunities. Over the past few years, trails have been extended and bike parks built. Niche activities have gone mainstream. At the same time, the pandemic began to push cabin-fevered homebodies off their couches and into kayaks, hiking boots or snowboards.
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And retailers figured that enthusiasts — both folks picking up hobbies for the first time and those revisiting lapsed ones — needed equipment. In November, Arkansas-based Gearhead Outfitters landed in Plaza Frontenac. REI is arriving in Town and Country by summer, and Sunset Hills will be home to a Bass Pro Shop before the end of the year.
But the trio of independent operations, which welcomed customers within weeks of each other in October, have claimed space here even among the major players. They are banking on experienced staff, curated shelves and an approachable atmosphere to give them a toehold in the burgeoning market.
“Outdoor space …….