A fourth generation of the founding family is taking on the 88-year-old Robinson’s Outdoor Store in downtown Victoria.
Erin Boggs, great-granddaughter of founder George Robinson, is now a part-owner with Matt King, who has been with the store for two decades.
Boggs and King signed succession papers on Friday for the business at 1307 Broad St. Gayle Robinson, Boggs’ mother, said the two will buy her out in the next five to eight years.
“I will stay on for a minimum of five years to pass on knowledge and mentorship to Erin and Matt,” Robinson said Wednesday.
“Both Matt and Erin are well-loved by our customers. Matt created the flyfishing shop that is one of the finest in B.C. and has managed the store for the past 10 of his 20 years with us.”
Robinson’s Outdoor Store is known for its founding role in the ThinkLocalFirst non-profit organization that promotes local businesses. It is a past winner of the Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Award, presented by the Vancouver Island chapter of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise.
Boggs, 27, has been involved with the store since she was 16 and has worked full-time there for more than three years.
She is passionate about sharing her travel experiences with customers and providing advice about what gear to take and what to expect in destinations such as Nepal and Peru.
The store sends staff to various locations so that they can return with expertise to pass on to customers.
Boggs is keen to foster personal connections. She has spent many years volunteering and working with special needs people. She is eager to take the store into its 100th anniversary.
A man who was in the store recently said that he bought his first bicycle there, putting five cents down at a time. “I love that we have that relationship with people in Victoria,” Boggs said.
After 20 years at the store, becoming an owner was the next logical step, said King, 43. He calls the opportunity “amazing.”
“It is just something that I have always dreamed of.”
The business was founded by George Robinson on Nov. 3, 1929 when he bought the Harris and Smith Bicycle Shop at 1220 Broad St. downtown.
His son, Doug Robinson, said in 2007 that George borrowed $100 from an insurance policy to start the business.
At that time, bikes were mainly considered toys for children, but as the Depression made driving too expensive, many adults turned to them as well.
George also introduced baby carriage rentals after noticing overburdened mothers out shopping with their children.
In 1946, he bought the Northern Creamery Building, the current location of Robinson’s.
“If he hadn’t had the foresight to purchase the building, I very much doubt we would still be here,” Gayle said.
George Robinson passed the store, then called Robinson’s Sporting Goods, to his sons, Gordon and Doug, now 89. They renamed it Robinson’s Outdoor Store as camping became more popular and the business dropped hunting equipment.
Gayle joined the business in 2005 to renovate and re-merchandise the store. “By then, we were hiking, adventure travel, flyfishing and still are,” she said.
