Gorge Fly Shop Blog: April 15, 2019 - New Store Officially Opens!

Official Opening

Dust is still settling and still much decorating to do but early on this date Gorge Fly Shop officially unlocked NEW doors to the public at 9:30am.

It seemed only logical to go ahead and switch to our summer hours of operation.

Mon - Sat 9:30 - 6:00
Sunday 10:00 - 4:00

It's been long overdue to have a place to call our own and a long road from start to "almost" finished. I don't think Travis or Lyndsey have hardly had time to sleep in the past couple weeks.

Directions

3200 Lower Mill Dr., Hood River, OR 97031

Directions: From Portland head I-84 E to Hood River Exit 64 or otherwise known as the bridge exit. Hang a right (south) onto to Hwy 35 heading toward Mt.Hood. Travel approx 6 miles and turn right on Neal Creek Mill Rd. Shortly after turn left on Lower Mill Dr. Follow Lower Mill Dr. to address 3200

A Brief History

Where to start! How about a brief history of this new, old building. Basically, we bought a warehouse. The large building was actually an old lumber storing/drying building for the local log mill. While the outside is modern steel siding the inside reveals its rough cut timber bones.

Most of these buildings are long gone but the one all the way in the back remains and is our new home

Since this large building was much more than needed for our fly shop business the majority of is and will remain commercial storage. Call Travis if you need some commercial storage space.

Construction Starts

The decision was made to locate the fly shop on the south end of the warehouse. Construction started with tearing up the old rough concrete floor.

Walls were erected for retail space, office, shipping department and product warehousing. Travis also utilized the overhead space into a second floor for additional office space for lease. Call Travis for info.

Since new concrete floor was in order we decided to install radiant heating and acid stain to create a finished flooring.

Priority Retail

With the clock ticking, a date was already set to vacate the old brick and mortar of Hood River and time was running out. The paint hardly had time to dry when Simms had sent a team in to install the new displays.

Sage, Winston and G.Loomis contributed as well with the large banners installed behind the new rod racks.

Meanwhile the concrete team was finishing up the front porch with a stamped old lumber finish under the wood framed porch.

The Final Days

The new fly tray system was already assembled and loaded at the old store and now ready to move into place.

Aside from moving all the fixtures and inventory, the last week also included the hook up of a brand new phone system and high speed internet system.

The entire switch took place without interrupting daily e-commerce operations. Nobody's order was delayed due to our move. That in itself was quite a feat.

We're Open and Running

Still much to do but the finish is now in sight. As this long road nears the end we turn our attention to the future.

Long time customer and good friend Steve Turner was the first to walk through our new door. Good to see you Steve!

Thank You

To all who have walked through our old doors, called us, ordered from us online, we owe all of this new future to you. Your continued support has made this possible and all of us at "The Gorge" Thank You.

Also like to Thank Jeremy Muenzer Construction and crew and Jason Peterson Concrete for all their hard work and dedication to finish on time and building a great looking store.

Join us

In the next couple months as we are settling in we are also preparing for our Grand Opening Party to take place at the start of summer on June 22nd. On this Saturday we invite everyone to come out and celebrate the new store. There will be manufacture representatives on hand with demo equipment, great deals and food. More details to come!

The Deschutes River Alliance and Fly Fishing Collaborate will have booths set up to share all the good stuff that's happening. Travis has made the commitment to donate 5% of the days in store sales to each of these organizations.