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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Medford cop was justified in killing shoplifter, grand jury rules ... Evergreen Federal in Medford robbed this afternoon ... Nighttime detours planned for Exit 24 ... Medford cop was justified in killing shoplifter, grand jury rules ... Evergreen Federal in Medford robbed this afternoon ... Nighttime detours planned for Exit 24 ... RETAIL Northwest Outdoor Store has embarked on a 2,500-square-foot expansion Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 11, 2015 at 5:03 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 11, 2015 at 5:03 PM » Social News Oddsmakers might have made Scott Keith a longshot when he opened his outdoor store in Bear Creek Plaza nearly six years ago. But against those odds, Northwest Outdoor Store has not only outlasted the Great Recession, the arrival of REI, and a prolonged drought, but has embarked on a 2,500-square-foot expansion. The 30-year industry veteran, who managed McKenzie Outfitters for 10 years, mapped out a plan and he's stuck with it. "We had a five-year plan, and for the last five years, we've put every penny back into the shop," said Keith, who sold his house in order to fund the opening. "When the economy tanked it was reflected in the purchases people were able to make," Keith said. "It changed our product selection a bit. We tried to bring in quality equipment to reflect the reality of the situation. We weren't necessarily ordering $400, high-end Gortex jackets, we were getting things that were more reasonable." He noticed there was a certain upside to the downturn. For many people, the foreign vacations were turned into Southern Oregon adventures. "Instead of going to Italy for a week, people were coming in, grabbing a tent and sleeping bags and going camping for a week," Keith said. "When we first opened, we had 10 tents pitched on the floor to make the store look full. Now, we can barely display one tent because we have so much here — kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, rock climbing and mountaineering gear, snowshoes and cross-country skis." Northwest Outdoor Store now lays claim to being the largest kayak dealer between Portland and Sacramento. "In general, things are getting better," he said. "We're trying our best to be a well-rounded, four-season outdoor store with a little of everything for everybody." When neighboring Yotopia Yogurt exited the shopping center, vacating the space between the outdoor shop and Tiff's Hallmark store, it was time for Keith to make the next leap forward. In addition to making room for wider and deeper selections, the extra space will allow the next steps on the business plan to unfold, including a consignment section, an Oregon gift section, and an in-house cafe. "We're going to resurrect the Oregon gift shop thing, featuring local, natural products and gifts," he said. "There will be home-decor items, wall decorations and Pendleton blankets." Sharing a common wall with the Hallmark store, Keith said, will provide two gift destinations at one stop. The cafe's hours will be longer, he said, than the store's general 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. routine. There are still blank boxes on the checklist. "For the most part, we don't have a fly shop," he said. "We're securing space to be able to do that, and we may choose to go into bicycles, too." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 11, 2015 at 5:03 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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