(MCO) celebrating their first anniversary this month, is owned by Mark & Taylor Morgan.  Opening last November in a slow economy the business has grown steadily.  For those of you who have yet to visit this new retail business in town you are in for a treat.

Morgan owns the adjacent business Cascade Mountain Loans, and noticed a need when a prior sporting goods store left downtown Sedro-Woolley.  Mark began carrying fishing poles in the Pawnshop and noticed how quickly they were moving and the requests for more equipment kept coming.  According to Taylor Morgan, “that is when he decided to    negotiate for the adjacent space and the idea for a full-fledged retail space took off.”

Mark comes across as a man with strong principles and values.  He speaks his mind and talks straight.  When he talks of being a single father for the past 13 years and you see what a fine young lady he has raised, it is apparent he has imparted those values to the daughter he loves.  Taylor Morgan, 20, who owns the building housing Morgan Creek Outfitters, is also a full partner in the business.  Mark opened his first business in town February 1, 1992 working 6 days a week to keep his business and family afloat.

The building MCO occupies was purchased from Greer Drummond.  Local artist Sheila Stewart created vignettes of old time stores throughout the space.  Mark had a vision and basic design in mind, but wanted to be sure it did not look like a Yosemite Sam cartoon. 

You can visit the Armory, the Boot and Sock Store, the Mercantile, or the Bait and Tackle Shop all attractively showcased and well organized.  In addition you will also find yourself gazing upward at the elk antler chandeliers and wagon wheel lighting fixtures.  You’ll see Canadian Geese flying a V formation across the ceiling, and many stuffed animals from deer to bobcat, to cobra and mongoose.

Big sellers this time of year are camo gear, rain gear, hats and gloves as it is duck and deer season.  But the store sells everything from custom arrow cutting to citronella wristbands and “ass blaster hot sauce.”  You can find a ring to cook on, a pot to put it in and the equipment to catch or shoot your dinner. MCO features spices, rubs, cures, and brines repackaging some for sale in smaller quantities.

The store is managed by Heindrick Matthiesen and has a total of 5 employees.  Including, Dick Raymond, a qualified archery expert & bow technician with over 30 years experience in the field according to their website at www.morgancreekoutfitters.com.   Mr. Raymond is an archery instructor for a local Scout camp during the summer.

In the armory, you can purchase firearms, subject to state and federal law, including pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and ammunition.  An area where Mr. Morgan is  adamant that all things be done correctly and within the law is in selling firearms,  hunting and fishing licenses.  People ask the staff  “can you use live bait,” “where am I allowed to hunt” and his employees need to be able to answer those questions.  He   insists that everyone be provided with a copy of the regulations, as he does not want to be liable for providing improper information. 

Morgan was born in Monroe, graduated from Everett High School and has always had a passion for the outdoors and small towns.  He saw Sedro-Woolley as the perfect place to raise a daughter on his own.  His wife died at the age of 30 in 1996, leaving Mark to raise Taylor by himself.  At that time he begin hiring others to work for him at Cascade Mountain Loans to allow him more time for his daughter and her activities.  He has a strong work ethic and believes in a principled life.  Cascade Mountain Loans is not the kind of place to bring ill-gotten goods as he sees places that do so as a black mark on an industry he strives to run in an ethical and legal manner.

He understands the locals and says their main demand is they don’t want to drive to Burlington to shop.   MCO has received support for carrying the items requested by those customers, and has steadily grown the business. 

Initially catering to the male oriented market place he has seen a demand for women’s outdoor wear as well.  Evidently the pink camo gear flies off the shelves. Soon he will be carrying Bog Boots for Men and Women.  He likes selling products like Bog Boots because the manufacturer stands behind the product, with a 100% guarantee another reflection of Morgan’s key values.

So if you want to shop local, take a good look inside Morgan Creek Outfitters I am sure you can find an item to suit your fancy.  Mark really wants to thank the people of Sedro-Woolley for the support he has received in the past 17 years.  Taylor stated her goals were to build a good name, keep the employees working and have a stable business presence in the community.  We, at the Chamber of Commerce, are proud to have Mark and Taylor     Morgan as business owners in the community and to have them as November’s business of the month.