County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County
Cloudy, 61°
Wind: mph,
By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY
Cleaver Managing Editor
For over 20 years, Jeff Mustamaa has owned and operated Ken’s Landing in Harrison. Now he eyes retirement as James Kaminski has purchased the store and renamed it Tackle and Trail Outdoor Supply Co. Kaminski not only brings a rebranding to the Harrison staple but additional product lines, hours, and fresh ideas.
Mustamaa is working for Kaminski for the time being to help him settle into the business and so he’s not quite a one-man show just yet. Though Mustamaa made a joke that he’s ready to be fired anytime and is looking forward to retirement.
“I’d be lost totally without Jeff’s help,” Kaminski said. “All the questions I’ve been able to ask him, what do you think about this? Have you tried doing this? That kind of thing. And it’s been a lifesaver having him here.”
Mustamaa originally named the business after his brother, Ken, who passed away young from a heart condition. The brothers enjoyed hunting and fishing together.
“We were fishing buddies, and I named it after him,” Mustamaa said. “A lot of people that came here over the years called me Ken, and sometimes I corrected them and sometimes I was Ken.”
Kaminski is originally from Midland and spent a lot of his childhood here in Harrison. After college, where he earned a marketing degree, he worked for Bass Pro Shops in their corporate offices and ran his own custom woodworking business. Kaminski has lived in Harrison for four years and felt he was ready to take the leap to own a larger business.
“I love northern Michigan, especially the Harrison area,” Kaminski said. “I've grown up spending summers up here and I am happy to call it home now. “And even happier to open a business here that will focus on what people need and provide a service they can count on in a small town with family values.”
Kaminski has hunted, fished and camped his entire life, and his family spent a lot of time around the lakes in Harrison.
“It’s always something I’ve had passion about,” he said. “I’ve got a few other small businesses I’ve started and run but nothing in a retail space. I’ve always wanted to do something for myself. I had been talking to Jeff on and off for a little while and knowing he wanted to retire and finally was able to put the pieces together and make it happen.”
Kaminski is open to expanding his product lines and also plans to offer used sporting equipment. The store not only buys guns, but Kaminski will buy hunting equipment, rods, reels, camping equipment, tackle boxes, sporting goods, etc.
“I’ll buy anything related I think I can resell and give someone else a good deal on,” he said. “There aren’t many places around here to do that.
“Jeff was super successful here for 20-plus years so I’m not reinventing the wheel, I’m not getting rid of anything he did well in the past that people liked and enjoyed. I’m keeping all of that. I am adding to inventory.”
Kaminski also plans to offer services in the future like knife sharpening, scope mounting, bore sighting, etc. Of course, Tackle and Trail will continue to offer bait.
Stop this week to meet Kaminski and sign up for giveaways and prizes as part of the grand opening. Check out the business’s new merchandise – and it’s not too late to grab your deer license!
Tackle and Trail Outdoor Supply Co is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and they are located at 704 N First Street in Harrison next to Taco Bell. Follow them on Facebook at Tackle & Trail Outdoor Supply Co. or call 989-539-3700.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here