The Kayak Store will be opening September 15 in Downtown Hartselle. The store will offer mid-range to higher end kayaks as well as rentals and accessories for the Hartselle area. The store will be located at 407 Main Street West, Hartselle, AL 35640.

Tony Dean is the owner of The Kayak Store and said the store will help meet local need for kayaks and accessories. The store was formerly opened in Priceville under a different owner, and Dean felt there was still a need. “We saw the need that Scott had with the store, and didn’t want to see that momentum and hard work to go to the waste,” Dean said.

The Dean family have been kayaking for approximately seven years. Dean said that he and his two sons began with one kayak for fishing, and have since purchased one for each person. According to Dean, that expertise will help them in the store as well. “We can actually answer questions. We are a kayaking family, so we can give honest opinions about the kayaks we will sell,” Dean said.

The Kayak Store will also be selling kayaking accessories such as life jackets and fishing equipment, and will be renting kayaks. There will be Feel Free and Vibe kayaks to begin with, and Dean said there will possibly be paddle boards as well. Although they are not currently offering the service, he said they may eventually get into outfitter like services that include shuttling people.

Primarily, Dean wants to share the fun experiences he has gained through kayaking with others. “There is something about being in a kayak on the water. Just being out there and relaxing is awesome. I call it my hydrotherapy,” Dean said.

The store will also serve a new need created by the opening of the Alabama Scenic River Trail through Hartselle and surrounding areas. That along with Depot Days pushed Dean to want to open the store sooner than originally planned. “It is a great opportunity. That was one of the reasons we wanted to push for sooner rather than later,” Dean said.

Dean is also involved with several local organizations that he hopes to partner with through the store. One includes an organization that takes military service members and community first responders kayaking for a day of relaxation.

According to Dean, he has always considered opening an outdoor recreation store, but until recently did not think it would happen. “I have toyed around the idea of doing something in the fishing outdoor realm, but thought that I was too old. That changed real quick,” Dean said.

The most exciting thing for Dean is having the opportunity to share his experiences with others. “Getting people to see the fog on the river and sunsets is amazing,” he said.