By John Dowd 

Outdoors retailer re-opens in new location

 

John Dowd

Big Bull Sports owner Tom Kirkland stands behind the counter of his outdoor equipment store in its new location in downtown Thompson Falls.

Big Bull Sports has reopened at its new location at 1013 Main Street in Thompson Falls. The grand opening was June 1, and owner Tom Kirkland said the day saw a great turnout. "It is amazing how much changes just through a new location," said Kirkland.

According to Kirkland, many outdoor supply stores in the country are experiencing poor product availability this year, and that is why he is sticking to "the bread-and-butter" products. Currently, Big Bull Sports carries typical outdoor sporting equipment like guns, fishing gear, bear spray, camping equipment, knives and other basics. However, Kirkland hopes to increase his inventory once supply availability returns to normal.

In addition to outdoor gear, Big Bull Sports also provides services such as gunsmithing. Jobs that cannot be done in house are contracted to other local gunsmiths at no extra charge to the customer. According to Kirkland, a customer will not have to pay more for that service even compared to what the customer would pay going straight to the contracted gunsmith.

Also, Big Bull Sports will no longer be doing any archery work, although a few supplies are available. Kirkland said that there is not enough interest in the area to justify the added time, space and cost of tuning and working on bows, as well as buying them and having a dedicated archery section.

The new location is in the old Thompson Falls Bank, across Fulton Street from Black Bear Coffee and Espresso. It shares a building with Ames Tax Service. Kirkland has refurbished the inside of the store, installing new wooden and metal ceiling areas, all new lighting, and new flooring. The store utilizes the space efficiently and has plenty of parking, compared to many of the other shops on Main Street.

The store's official hours are pending. A more concrete schedule will be determined after a few weeks, when Kirkland can better assess the market in town. Kirkland said that at his old location, he might sell a handful of shirts in a month but that he sold more than a dozen just on their first day at the new location. "We're going to have to be flexible to meet the needs of the new crowd," he said.

Kirkland expects more changes in his customer base as summer comes into full swing, so new products may become available, and hours are subject to change.

Big Bull Sports can be found on Facebook or can be reached by calling 406-827-3972.

 

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