FARMINGTON – After 18 years on north Main Street, the must-stop shop to find out where the fish are or the best back country ski experience, Aardvark Outfitters, is closing its doors at the end of this month.
The reason, said owner Bob Dionne, is online shopping.
“Business has been in decline for a few years,” he said. “Six months were fine, but the other six months were tough.” The Maine Guide will continue his popular drift boat guide service, but not the shop.
“I tried to figure out how to make it work, but couldn’t,” Dionne of Vienna, said. He found he was guiding boats in order to support the business, but “I can’t be in two places at once,” he said of serving the store’s customers and continuing his guide service. “I couldn’t make economic sense of it.”
Dionne noted that 30 percent of fly shops in the east have gone out of business in the last few years.
Eighteen years ago, he opened the shop specializing in fly fishing, skiing and back country gear on busy Main Street/Routes 4 & 27, the gateway to Maine’s wild recreational heaven, on the sage advice that the most successful fly-fishing shopkeepers must be prepared to answer this one most important question: “What fly do I use today?”
Dionne said answering that question is nothing an online store can possibly do. “Who are they going to ask? I’m out there, I do know.” He marvels that shoppers are going online to buy ski boots, which are offered at the same price at his shop, without trying them on first with the aid of a knowledgeable skier who knows the correct fit. “And I guarantee the fit,” he said, “you scratch your head over it.”
The tough decision to close the shop came after three to five years of struggling to make it work.
“I’m a Maine Yankee; I’m not going into a lot of debt with this,” Dionne said.
He will miss his customers. “I am grateful for so many good customers. I’m grateful to have had the chance to do it,” he said. He added, “I appreciate the support I’ve had from the community.”
I haven’t be fly fishing in many years but when I did Aardvark was where I went. Bob was very helpful to me when I was just learning to fly fish. Good Luck with your guide business.
Congratulations on 18 great years! You will be missed!
Bob I’m so sorry to hear you are closing the store. I know what you mean about on line shopping. I wish you the best of luck in your guide service.
I remember the day you opened, and am sad to see you go. Great job for 18 years, though…
Sad to hear this. Where will we go for gear now?
First Red Oak, now Aardvarks…Yikes! Where will be Gear Junkies go for goods in western Maine?!?!?!?
Very sad and hope for the best with the drift boat service. Small business is (was) the backbone to this state and unfortunately within the next few years we will have lost many of our locally owned stores. Scary stuff….
Sad. But happy for the fish!
Sad to see you go Bob, and glad you were here for the 18 years, best of luck in your next chapter
Oh no. Now what will I find for the son-in-law for Christmas. Good luck.
Bob, will carry many memories of the special spots we visited over the years. May your next venture be a success.
You will be missed more than you know. Thank you for the 18 years of amazing customer service, awesome gear, and, overall cool store. We appreciate your hard work – and wish you the best of luck! Maine will not be the same without you.