1972 · SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURIBass Pro Shops
Outdoor retail · Bass Pro Shops family
Founded by: Johnny Morris
An angler’s search for fishing tackle became a retail business in a corner of his father’s liquor store. Johnny Morris’s Bass Pro Shops grew into stores designed around the outdoor experience, bringing equipment, wildlife displays and fishing culture together.
From the first shop onward
- 1972Morris started Bass Pro Shops with eight square feet of space in his father’s Springfield liquor store.
- Early growthThat original site remained the company’s only location for its first 13 years.
- 2017Bass Pro Shops completed its combination with Cabela’s.
Ownership & continuity
Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s in 2017. The two retail names remain part of the same company family, while keeping their distinct histories.
1961 · CHAPPELL, NEBRASKACabela’s
Outdoor retail · Part of Bass Pro Shops
Founded by: Dick, Mary and Jim Cabela
Cabela’s began as a family mail-order operation around a Nebraska kitchen table. Catalog shopping connected hunters and anglers with gear beyond the reach of their local stores, and the Cabela name later became associated with large outdoor destination stores.
From the first shop onward
- 1961Dick, Mary and Jim Cabela began their outdoor-products mail-order service in Chappell.
- Catalog eraThe family business built its identity serving hunters, anglers, campers and shooting-sports customers.
- 2017Cabela’s joined Bass Pro Shops; the combination announcement committed to retaining both brands.
Ownership & continuity
Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s in 2017. Cabela’s continues as a retail brand within the combined business.
1960 · WILMOT, WISCONSINGander Mountain
Historic chain · Assets acquired; brand later reused
Founded by: Robert Sturgis
Gander Mountain’s story spans mail-order shooting supplies, outdoor catalogs and retail stores. A Wilmot community history identifies Robert Sturgis as the founder. Its later corporate history shows why a familiar store name can continue through major changes in ownership and business model.
From the first shop onward
- 1960The business began as a catalog operation in Wilmot, according to its SEC-filed company history.
- 1996–1997The catalog operations were sold in 1996. Holiday Companies acquired the existing retail stores during 1996 and 1997, according to the 2004 prospectus.
- 2017Camping World announced its winning bankruptcy-auction bid for selected Gander Mountain and Overton’s assets.
- 2018–2019Gander Outdoors stores became part of the later Gander RV rollout; the first Gander RV location opened in Kenosha in 2018.
Ownership & continuity
In 2017, Camping World acquired selected assets, including brand rights, through a bankruptcy auction. This was an asset purchase alongside liquidation of the original stores—not a continuation of every original location.
1948 · BINGHAMTON, NEW YORKDICK’S Sporting Goods
Public company · Broader sporting-goods retailer
Founded by: Richard “Dick” Stack
Before becoming a national sporting-goods company, DICK’S was a bait-and-tackle shop. Its company history describes a young Dick Stack using $300 from his grandmother to start a store—an example of fishing retail providing the foundation for a much broader business.
From the first shop onward
- 1948Stack opened his bait-and-tackle business in Binghamton at age 18.
- Late 1970sThe shop expanded its merchandise beyond its original fishing focus.
- Broader retailThe company developed into a national sporting-goods business with multiple retail banners.
Ownership & continuity
The company grew from the Stack family’s original shop into DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc., a public company. Its present sporting-goods business is broader than the fishing-focused shop where it began.
1968 ROOTS · 1971 FOUNDING · CLARE, MICHIGANJay’s Sporting Goods
Family-run outdoor retailer · Michigan
Founded by: Jay and Arlene Poet
Jay’s grew from a small Clare garage into a destination for Michigan hunters and anglers. The company’s story credits Jay Poet’s focus on personal service and Arlene’s work mailing customer flyers. Their sons, Jeff and J.J., became involved as the business expanded.
From the first shop onward
- 1968 / 1971The detailed company story dates the garage beginnings to 1968; the company homepage names 1971 as the business’s start.
- 1974The first official Jay’s Sporting Goods store opened, adding fishing, archery and other equipment.
- 1988A larger Clare store opened on July 1, realizing the family’s outdoor-superstore plans.
Ownership & continuity
The company describes itself as a Michigan family-owned business. Its own accounts distinguish the garage-shop roots in 1968 from the 1971 founding date used on its homepage.
1912 · FREEPORT, MAINEL.L.Bean
Privately held · Family-owned outdoor company
Founded by: Leon Leonwood Bean
L.L.Bean began with the Maine Hunting Shoe, connecting a practical hunting need with a product and mail-order business. The company’s story follows that small beginning into a much wider outdoor retail operation while retaining its family ownership.
From the first shop onward
- 1912Leon Leonwood Bean founded the business, initially selling the Maine Hunting Shoe.
- Family growthGrandson Leon Gorman helped develop the company into a wider outdoor brand.
- 2013Great-grandson Shawn Gorman became chairman of the board, according to the company’s account.
Ownership & continuity
L.L.Bean identifies itself as privately held and family owned. Its company history credits founder L.L. Bean and grandson Leon Gorman with shaping the business’s development.
1983 · LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIALancaster Archery Supply
Archery specialist · Retail, education and competition media
Founded by: Rob Kaufhold
Lancaster Archery Supply represents the specialist shop’s place in outdoor retail history. Rob Kaufhold built the business around archery equipment, and its later work connects retail with instruction, competitive archery and broadcast coverage.
From the first shop onward
- 1983Kaufhold founded Lancaster Archery Supply.
- 2018Competition Archery Media launched, extending the retail business’s connection with tournament coverage.
- 2026The Archery Trade Association named Kaufhold its Industry Icon Award recipient.
Ownership & continuity
The company’s history centers on the Kaufhold family. Rob Kaufhold founded Lancaster Archery Supply and is identified as its founder and president in Competition Archery Media’s account.
