4 minute read
THE BASE CAMP
It is a beautiful thing when a locally owned and operated business can transition from one generation to the next, and that is exactly what is happening with The Base Camp, located in Helena and Billings.
Original store owners, Scott and Deb Brown, are passing the torch to their daughters, Cody and Lauren Brown, who have grown up with the business.
Let’s back up with a bit of history… The first Base Camp store found its modest home on the backside of Last Chance Gulch, occupying a 2,500-square foot space on Jackson Street from 1974 to 1981. During this time, Scott and Deb welcomed daughters Lauren and Cody. In 1990 the Brown family moved to Billings and brought their love for the outdoors with them, opening the doors of The Base Camp to the Billings community.
As the demand for outstanding outdoor products grew, the Helena Base Camp experienced some growing pains. In 2007, Scott made a visionary move by purchasing the old Gaslight Theater on Broadway, undertaking a remarkable remodeling effort. The result is the beautiful downtown keystone location that is widely cherished today.
Lauren and Cody spent countless days in both stores playing, connecting with their family of staff, and perhaps occasionally annoying them while their parents worked tirelessly.
Lauren recalls, “We hold fond memories of childhood adventures in both stores, from playing beneath the stairs at the original Helena store to witnessing the Billings location transform from a maroon and pink bridal store into an earthy outdoor specialty haven, complete with aspen trees, a soothing water feature and the finest outdoor gear available. Our fortunate upbringing revolved around an outdoor lifestyle, complete with river trips, ski and camping adventures, and of course, access to incredible gear!”
Fast forward to the spring of 2023, when Scott and Deb told their daughters they were putting the stores up for sale and retiring. The conversation evolved from a series of “What ifs,” “How would that work?” and “Can we do this?” to an enthusiastic and resounding “YES, let’s do it!”
Lauren holds two degrees in Photography and Graphic Design and has made her home in Bozeman with her husband, Chris, and their three daughters, Mckenna, Cecelia and Ellis. She has successfully operated a photography business specializing in portraits, weddings, and commercial photography for more than 20 years.
Cody is a graduate of Fashion Design and Merchandising from the University of Hawai’i. Her desire to understand, holistically, the implications of global manufacturing took her to China, where she taught surfing and produced a photo documentary following the supply chain of a line of bamboo clothing. Her adventures continued in Ecuador, where she opened and ran successful restaurants and managed production of artisanal textiles throughout South America for largescale fashion brands, spending weekends paddling the amazing Amazonian rivers. Most recently, she worked as a project coordinator for a busy residential designbuild firm in Honolulu. Cody is coming full circle, moving back to Montana to take the helm with her sister, Lauren.
“Our life paths leading up to this moment have been a culmination of experiences that have uniquely prepared us for this exciting new chapter. We wholeheartedly believe it is meant to be,” said Lauren.
This exciting change marks a new era for The Base Camp.
Lauren explains, “At the core of The Base Camp are values that resonate deeply with us—family, friends and a shared love for the great outdoors. These values extend beyond the conventional definition of family; they encompass our dedicated staff and the communities we proudly serve.”
As Lauren says, “The Base Camp is really an outdoor lifestyle store.” They carry lines of outdoor and urban comfort clothing including Patagonia, Vuori, Free Fly and Prana. They also offer the best in footwear, from urban casual lines like Birkenstock, Blundstone, Dansko and Sorel, to rugged hiking footwear from Low, Salomon, Oboz and Merrell. In addition to their retail store, which also offers super cool gifts, The Base Camp offers a year-round rental program of backpacks, sleeping pads, tents, bear canisters, standup paddle boards, inflatable kayaks, pack rafts, paddles, PFDs, ice axes, cross-country skis and snowshoes.
If this isn’t enough to lure you to their site or through their doors, consider the fact that their knowledgeable, local staff can direct you to all of Montana’s special places and outfit you to get the most out of your recreation endeavors. Whether you need the right gear and equipment for enjoying our wild lands or just comfortable and durable casual clothing to enjoy the Montana lifestyle, The Base Camp offers it all.
Shop local and visit www.thebasecamp.com or stop into one of their two locations: 5 W. Broadway in Helena or 1730 Grand Ave. in Billings.
