MOUNT VERNON — The owner of the former Rivers Edge Hunting and Fishing property plans to rebuild, but the former business owner has no plans to reopen the hunting and fishing store, which was destroyed in fire in late January.
Property owner Gary Gray said he plans to have another commercial building built at the same location, 306 W. Gambier St., later this year, but doesn’t know at this point what business it will house.
Former Rivers Edge owner Chris Murphy said that due to financial reasons, he has no plans to rebuild.
The sudden absence of the business has affected local residents who hunt and fish.
Local bowhunters are the ones missing Rivers Edge the most, according to James Leventry, head of the Knox County Fish & Game Association. Rivers Edge focused on bowhunting and archery, and had an archery range in the building on West Gambier Street. However, the store did not sell firearms.
Leventry said many local bowhunters are now going to Fin, Feather & Fur Outfitters. As for people who fish, he said he thinks most them find what they need either at Rick’s Sporting Goods at 206 S. Main St. in Mount Vernon, or at Grandpa’s Tackle Box at 17811 Buena Vista Drive in Fredericktown.
Mount Vernon Hardware Co. recently began to sell live fishing bait, in response to demand from customers who previously bought live bait at Rivers Edge.
Karla Musick, co-owner of Rick’s, said she plans to get live bait in this week as well. She said business has been increasing steadily since the store opened about 2 1/2 years ago, and can’t say for certain whether the fire at Rivers Edge is a contributing factor.
Rick’s sells a wide variety of hunting and fishing supplies, including firearms and bows, but does not have an archery range. She said they have been busy so far this spring and fishing supply sales are booming.
Musick added that quite a few customers who buy fishing supplies go to Foundation Park, and some parents have asked for fishing rods and supplies for children, which Rick’s has begun to stock.
