April showers typically bring spring flowers, but this April ushered in some unexpected news and heartfelt sadness to the Inland Northwest outdoors community as well when Rambleraven Gear Trader announced it was shutting down. So much more than a gear shop, for seven years Rambleraven was the locally-owned go-to stop for both new and used outdoors sports equipment and apparel and also filled a role as an outdoor community gathering place, much like predecessor gear shops Mountain Gear and Mountain Goat Outfitters that once served the community.
For many of us who frequently walked through the front door of the always well-stocked shop, the experience often included a friendly greeting from shop dog Mazzy and staff, as well as frequent run-ins with gear shopping friends or impromptu conversations with fellow patrons. Rambleraven was a place to recycle your quality used outdoor gear in exchange for cash or gear credit; shop for new and used gear; get your bike or boards tuned; and arguably more importantly to engage with others who are as passionate about the outdoors.
Rambleraven founder and owner Mark Schneider, friend and adventure partner of several Out There contributors and staff, put his heart and soul into the shop, and after several successful years of growth and diversification, an insurmountable chain of business challenges, including a post-COVID-era outdoor retail sales slowdown, the cost and difficulty of finding a badly-needed larger building in the right location, and other economic obstacles eventually persuaded him that it was time to hit the brakes, permanently.
Pulling the plug on any dream, let along one that involved a risky career change to start and run an outdoor consignment and gear shop in a new town, is undeniably difficult. During the shop’s final weeks, Schneider expressed gratitude to his loyal customers for their patronage and understanding as he navigated the closure process. “I have so much appreciation for the community support over the years and especially enjoyed getting to know so many of the customers as well as helping to raise thousands of dollars for many local non-profit conservation and outdoors organizations,” he says. “Closing Rambleraven definitely wasn’t the decision I wanted to make but was truly my only option in the end.”
Rambleraven will be sorely missed, but we hope to see Schneider, Mazzy, and other shop staff out there on our trails, mountains, rivers, and crags for years to come.
