Crews are working on the finishing touches for the 5,000-square-foot Orvis store at ONE City Plaza. The outdoor high-end fly-fishing, hunting and sporting goods store is planning on a Nov. 1 soft opening with a grand opening celebration planned for Dec. 5-7.
The store is a “typical” Orvis retail store and will carry fly-fishing equipment, men’s and women’s apparel and a limited dog and home goods selection. Customers can order any catalog items at the store and they’ll be shipped free of charge, said Orvis retail logistics manager Andrea Berumen. The store will employ 10-15 people.
A full-service fly-fishing department will be on site with a designated fly-fishing manager. Fly-Fishing 101 classes will be held on Saturdays during the spring, and several times a year the store will sponsor other fly-fishing seminars and events. The Orvis store will also work with local guides and lodges to book guided trips for customers.
“We work to get our customers the best experience possible,” said Berumen.
This is the Vermont-based retailer’s 66th retail store – the first Orvis store in the Upstate and the second one in South Carolina. Founded in 1865, Orvis pioneered the mail-order industry in the United States, and operates more than 80 retail stores in the U.S. and the U.K. The company also contributes 5 percent of pre-tax profits every year to protect nature, support communities and advance canine health and well-being.
At the Dec. 5-7 grand opening event, the store will have drawings, live music, food and refreshments. They’ll also give out reusable Orvis tote bags and other promotional items. A local conservation partner will also be named and a portion of the grand opening proceeds will go to that charity or organization, said Berumen.
