Can you share the story of how Onion River Outdoors came to be and what inspired you to open the shop in Montpelier?
Onion River Outdoors follows in the footsteps of its beloved predecessor, Onion River Sports, which served Montpelier for 43 years before closing in 2017. We essentially recreated that business and never considered opening anywhere else! Opening Onion River Outdoors - and reopening after the flood - required elbow grease, good ideas, and financial help from our community and customers. Also, Kip has too many cobbled-together and salvaged bikes to fit in our home and the rafters of the shop is the perfect place to display/store them.
How do you curate your gear selection to meet the needs of your customers?
We curate our selection by using the stuff ourselves and seeing what survives and what stinks. Central Vermonters have very particular tastes and needs based on our weather, landscape, and culture. It's funny how stuff that we love here isn't as popular in the rest of the country, be it a hybrid bike with a suspension fork that can handle everything from dirt trails to potholed paved roads, or the wide, waxless skis that can be used right out the back door and across whatever terrain you have in your neighborhood. These items don't sell as well in other parts of the country and sometimes companies discontinue products that sell really well here, much to our disappointment. Apparently we are a different and slightly quirky breed.
What’s the most rewarding part of running an outdoor gear shop in Montpelier?
Jen says: Getting to meet so many people and share information about trails and places to recreate is fun and meaningful to me. Equally important is the chance to try to be the kind of employer I wanted to have in my past jobs: recognizing that work is only one element in a meaningful life and making room for staff to prioritize their family's needs and their own health and wellness. Kip says: Being an integral part of everything that happens in this community, creating new opportunities, and supporting the outdoor adventures of like-minded vistiors and residents.
What advice would you give to someone new to outdoor sports on selecting the right gear?
Two things: What works for one person may not work for another (see example above about bikes and skis) so reviews and testimonials need to be taken with a grain of salt. Start with recommendations from people you trust, borrow or rent gear if you can, and experiment to figure out what will work best for you. Secondly, when you do purchase something, buy good quality. The item is more likely to hold up to the rigors of your activity and if it doesn't, it's more likely to have a good warranty or be repairable than a less well-made item. It doesn't end up costing less if you have to buy it again soon. And cheap stuff breaking in the woods ruins an otherwise fun adventure.
How do you see the future of outdoor recreation in Central Vermont?
Central Vermont has the potential to have the best outdoor recreation of any place in the country. We've got all the right ingredients: mountain ranges that have been spared commercial development, rivers being restored to their free-flowing state, and communities that cherish the landscape and value outdoor activities. We know that community trails lead to better quality of life, strengthened community bonds, and economic growth for local businesses, so we're hopeful about the future! We're on the right track with recreation initiatives at the Montpelier Country Club Road property and the extension of park and town trails that allow people to walk and bike more and drive less.
What’s next for Onion River Outdoors? Any upcoming events, products, or initiatives that people can look forward to?
Oh boy, so many fun events this spring! We love organizing and hosting weekly gravel group rides on Thursdays and when the trails dry out we'll add in Tuesday group mountain bike rides with our MAMBA friends. On March 30th, we're inviting all kids in 5th-12th grade to come meet the coaches of the Central Vermont Trailblazers mountain bike team and learn what a fun, supportive team it is. And then April 26th is the Muddy Onion gravel ride along with the Vermont Gear Makers Festival and an all-new community event, Mud Fest! Finally, our Bike Swap will be on May 10th with bike drop-offs at the shop the week before.