By Sunny Hubler, QC Exclusive
In 1856, the first Orvis store opened in Manchester, Vermont, offering locals high quality fly fishing equipment.
Since then, Orvis has become a household name around the country and especially in the sporting South. The Charlotte area is home to many Orvis shoppers, who will be thrilled to learn that the beloved store at Phillips Place is relocating to a bigger location in the Strawberry Hill shopping center off Providence Road in Cotswold.
New Orvis Charlotte Location
In addition to fly fishing gear, Orvis’ product selection has grown since the 19th century. They now include a wide assortment of men’s and women’s sportswear, travel accessories, dog products, and technical apparel and gear for wingshooting and sporting clays.
“Our products are specifically geared to serve a purpose in the outdoors, whether you’re casting to tailing redfish from the bow of a flats skiff in Charleston, or walking your dog in the rain down Fairview Road,” says Mary Schaeffer, District Manager at Orvis.
Wide Range Of Services Beyond Clothing
Besides products, Orvis stores also offer a range of relevant services. For example, the same trust that customers have learned to place in Orvis products can also extend to a network of lodges, outfitters, and guides. Plus, hunting dog trainers and breeders endorsed by Orvis.
This network powers Orvis’ international sporting and eco-travel agency, which facilitates adventure travel for novices and experts alike. Furthermore, fishing and shooting schools help keep the sports that are at the heart of Orvis stores alive, recruiting new outdoor enthusiasts to these sports and polishing seasoned outdoorsmen. In fact, the Charlotte location offers free Fly Fishing 101 classes, through which over 4,000 people have learned to fly fish.
The new Charlotte location will have a dedicated classroom space to educate even more future fly fishermen. Additionally, its larger size will be better equipped to incorporate social spaces and a defined area for customers to access travel booking resources. This relocation arrives on the heels of a new Orvis storefront in the Charlotte area. This store opened in Birkdale in 2023 and offers a scaled down version of the Strawberry Hill store.
How Orvis Charlotte Is Giving Back
Opening weekend for the new store will fall during Orvis’ Great Giveback Days. This is a month-long event occurring in the spring and the fall during which Orvis retail stores around the nation partner with local nonprofits. Typically, these nonprofits operate in the conservation sphere and receive a percentage of store profits.
This year, the Charlotte store will partner with the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Located in Fort Mill, this 2,100-acre park is a beautiful outdoor recreation resource within easy driving distance to Charlotte. Previously, the Charlotte store has partnered with Catawba Lands Conservancy, Catawba Riverkeepers, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, CCA, ASPCA, and Casting Carolinas.
For more information about opening weekend, connect with the store on Instagram, visit the store’s webpage, or call 704-571-6100.