Located on Kercheval Avenue between Neff and Saint Claire, Half Moon Outfitters brings a new taste of outdoor adventure to the Village and the suburban stores surrounding it. Half Moon Outfitters is an independent regional chain of outdoor stores based in Charleston, South Carolina. With stores in the Carolinas, Texas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the Grosse Pointe location is their first above the 39th parallel. The northern store is meant to be a new opportunity for the company to expand towards the winter market. The employees were very helpful and gave directions when asked. Interestingly, a few of them were trained in South Carolina and are staying in Michigan for the time being.
Half Moon Outfitters is a homey mix of a Bass Pro Shop and an REI Co-Op. Supplying everything from climbing rope, roof mount tents and even kayaks, Half Moon Outfitters is sure to have what every adventurer needs. What sets Half Moon apart from these large corporations is its in-town accessibility and their extensive inventory of shoes. They get new stocks of trail-related shoes every day, many of which take a long time to hit the shelves at larger retailers.
There were many high-quality outdoor brands on the shelves, including Patagonia, Black Diamond, Arc’teryx and Columbia. They even had a few items I have not seen in my local REI, but all things considered, it was nothing special. What I was least impressed with was their name-brand selection or lack thereof. When I asked if they had anything that I could not find anywhere else, I was directed to a couple of shelves pushed together near the checkout. The only brand-unique items were their shirts, hats, and visors with a screenprint or patch of the Half Moon brand.
I really looked for something that makes this place special. The selection of boots were nice but they are an outfitter, not a shoe outlet. I enjoyed the interior and the variety of items they had on the shelves, many of which are sustainable and made out of quality materials. I feel this store really tries to appeal to the experienced backpacker, and they do a great job, especially if you’re ready to walk out with a few hundred dollars less to your name. For the average Grosse Pointer, this is an interesting window shopping spot that brings a new light to Grosse Pointe. Based on their unique shopping experience, but a lack of brand identity, I give Half Moon Outfitters a 4/5 stars rating.
