A little round-up of some of our favorite outdoor industry retail spaces providing high-quality products, engaging merchandise design and a strong sense of community:
Fireside Camp Supply
Philadelphia, PA
Fireside Camp Supply is a one-woman show, owned and operated by 29-year-old Christina Saboe in Philadelphia. The store combines the feel of a classic ‘70s camping outfitter with a stylish urban vibe, providing a variety of heritage, technical and youthful gear, as well as nostalgic, Boy Scout-esque gifts from small, local or American brands. Fireside’s quirky space aims to remind people there is plenty to explore outside the city limits: crisp green grass, fresh air and making memories with your friends and family. To get you started, the shop offers a gear rental service and hosts community events year-round, including free s’mores around the campfire on First Fridays.
Mollusk Surf Shop
Los Angeles, Venice Beach + San Francisco, CA
Over the past 10 years, Mollusk Surf Shop has become an institution for all things surf culture, which includes art, music, film and visual media. With locations in San Francisco, Venice Beach and now Silver Lake, Mollusk’s storefronts offer a wide variety of high quality goods, often created by local friends and made in the USA when possible. Perhaps the best part about these shops is they not only function as retail platforms, but also community spaces for musical performances and art installations like Jay Nelson’s “Club House” build out at the Silver Lake shop.
Old Souls
Cold Spring, NY
Owned by James and Tara Carroll, Old Souls is an outdoor lifestyle and fly fishing shop located in the small town of Cold Spring, New York. The space specializes in curating a large selection of Made in the USA products and artisanal, responsibly made treasures from around the globe that fall into the categories of field, stream, camp and home. This means they stock everything from heritage Filson bags and Danner boots to rustic charcuterie boards and Turkish blankets made on 100-year-old looms. The design of the store is warm, inviting and honestly inspirational, whether you’re planning a fly fishing trip in the Catskills or decorating your cottage-style kitchen.
The Athletic
Portland, OR
The Athletic started out as an online endeavor structured around the idea of designing socks to enliven cyclists’ wardrobes, one of the most noteworthy pairs being a 6-inch tall sock embroidered with the infamous PDX Airport carpet pattern. Since then, the brand has established a multi-use brick and mortar in Northwest Portland that invites individuals to experience sport, art and culture in the same space. Filled with zines, jump ropes, tees, footwear and accessories, The Athletic retail store welcomes both the hardcore Pacific Northwest cycling community and the casual sports enthusiast.
Summer Camp
Ojai, CA
Occupying an incredible mid-century gas station, Summer Camp shop is inspired by the outdoors and the unique modern design culture that thrived in the middle of the 20th century. This destination store offers vintage camping and scouting goods, as well as handmade collectibles from makers across the United States. Custom, museum-quality framing and craft workshops on subjects like macramé and watercolor round out Summer Camp’s extraordinary space nestled in the Ojai Valley.
This article was originally published in RANGE Magazine Issue Three.
Photos by Molly Gavin, Will Adler, James Carroll, John Watson and Suzanne Scott.
XX SYDNEY
