Change of scenery with new outdoorsy stores on Main

In recent months, Bozeman has seen a high number of clothing brands open retail spaces. This growth has changed the way we look at our downtown.

One of the biggest grand openings this year was a new retail space of popular outdoor brand Fjällräven. Based out of Sweden, their doors opened in Bozeman on Sept. 2 just across from Athleta and next to Teton Gravity Research on the busiest part of Main Street. Fjällräven was not the only new store to cater to Bozemanites. Jackson Hole-based clothing company Stio also opened to Bozeman residents in September. In Feb. 2022, Backcountry, a gear and apparel company from Park City, Utah, also opened a storefront in Bozeman as well.

As winter creeps closer, the need for new sports and outdoors equipment will increase — especially for ski gear. The introduction of these new apparel and gear stores will allow city residents to look for the materials they need to enjoy the great outdoors. “Bozeman is so special because it is surrounded by so many beautiful things and there are so many recreation opportunities to be found in the community,” sophomore Macy Williams said.    

“In the future, I do see a lot more brands like Stio and Fjällräven opening stores in Bozeman. It really is the perfect place for them to have a store, especially when you look at the demographic of people in Bozeman and how much money they have to spend on clothes,” freshman and retail worker at Second Wind Sports Finley Bishop said. 

Many college students look away from the popular Main Street stores such as Lululemon, Chalet Sports or those listed above because of the prices. “I will always check second-hand stores before I go look for something new because it is far more cost-effective for me as a college student, and I like the concept of thrifting things not purchasing everything I own brand new. It's simply not necessary,” Williams said. 

According to Bishop, stores like Second Wind Sports, Goodwill, Sacks, Cash 4 Clothes and more should all see an increase of higher-end clothing on the racks as the wealthy, out-of-town buyers offload their items frequently. 

“I think these high-end clothing retail stores will have a very noticeable effect on second-hand clothing stores. We will start to notice more and more of this clothing at these retail stores, and it will also be cheaper than it ever has been because of how much of it there is,” Bishop said. 

“After working at Second Wind for almost an entire year,  I don't think I will ever feel the need to buy retail clothing again,” he said. “It is fun sometimes to buy something that is brand new, although it is quite pointless because stores like Second Wind Sports have endless amounts of brand new and like-new clothes and outdoor apparel.”