It all began with 2 friends, a dream, and Wet Boots
It was May 1994, Greg Rowe and Charles Woody (aka Woody) were camped alongside Eagle Creek in North Carolina. Greg’s boots were drying (melting!) by the fire as two friends talked and sipped hot cider. They did not like their current jobs (suits!) and thought that maybe they could start their own business someday. As Greg noticed his boot soles dripping, Woody mentioned that Maryville, TN did not have a place to buy quality outdoor gear and clothing and that people were driving to Knoxville to get it. It was that night that Little River Trading Company was born.
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Prepping for a "Step of Faith"
Woody and Greg ventured to their first market in this business. They left with a “maybe loan” and a “not sure” on a location. With the loan going through and the location panning out, things were starting to come together like clockwork, some would say it was destiny!
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First Market for LRTC!
Turning Thier Dream into a Reality
All hands on deck to create a space that was inviting and equipped with the area’s most up-to-date and high-quality gear to prepare you for any adventure. It’s amazing what elbow grease, some patience, and a fresh coat of paint can do for a space!
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Mr. Rowe Magic Fingers - LRTC's wonder carpenter!
"Demolition Man"
Ready for our Debut!
With the dream to live the lifestyle they loved, Greg and Woody opened Little River Trading Company on April 1, 1996, calling it their “Step of Faith”. Operating the store with no other employees.
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A Ribbon Cutting to commemorate this
momentous day!
Making Histroy, One News Article at a TIme
A rapidly growing need for outdoor gear and an outpouring of support from our community led us to hire more employees and move into our current building on Washington Avenue!
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families together"
Our 25th Anniversary!
Celebrating 25 years of being in this supportive community and providing the best gear for all of your outdoor adventures! Our motto has always been “quality outdoor gear and clothing since 1996” and it has always been “quality – everything.”
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Meet Our Team
We could not continue to be successful without the people behind the scenes who work every day to make sure our customers have the best experience and are able to have the gear they need to conquer whatever adventures they have set out for.
