The Start of Wind Rose North
Wind Rose North Outfitters is an outdoor retailer located in Menominee, Michigan. We offer a full line of active lifestyle apparel and technical equipment to get outside. Sandra “Freddie” and Mark Aubert started the business in 1999 by stocking backpacking clothes, inspired by their trips out west with their three kids, Zak, Amara, and Micah. In January 2014, they sold the business to their son, Zak Aubert.
In August 2017, Zak expanded the store's offerings to include a Live Bait and Tackle Department. In the same year (ambitious, we know), Zak took the "show on the road" by purchasing a traveling trailer. He outfitted it and sells safety shoes at industrial sites, and also sells lifestyle apparel, footwear, equipment, and good stories to customers at local county fairs and general public gatherings and places. When you see the Wind Rose North trailer, don’t hesitate to stop in and explore.
PART OF THE PLAN
In the ‘80s and ‘90s, family vacations revolved around taking trips to national parks like Yosemite, Glacier, Yellowstone, and local sites like the Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Menominee County's famed River Park. All these places mark a spot where some of the inspiration for Wind Rose North was cooked.
You’ll see kayaks in our store, but it wasn’t always that way. Interestingly enough, Mark was deathly afraid of water, relative to everyone else anyway, so the kayaking interest didn't start until the mid-’90s. Despite our late-in-the-game investment, come and pick up a kayak in the store—we have them for sale.
The Aubert family loved going on trips with the 4-H Challenge Group with Dale Fountain, Mike Sennett, Wayne Mulzer, and others. Trips to Marinette County's Pike River with cousins and high school friends were always part of the summer fun. Long story short, don’t hesitate to ask us about your next trip, but you may have to buy something from us to get us to stop talking about the outdoors.
COLLECTING HISTORY
The building at 427 10th Ave. was built in the late 1800s as a grocery store and general mercantile. In the years since, the store has remained relatively true to its roots. Although no longer focused on grocery, Wind Rose North Outfitters continues to provide goods and services that relate to our community members’ daily needs.
Mark, who started his career as an architect, underwent a complete interior remodel with an updated floor plan, retaining some of the original “cool stuff” like the tin ceilings. Amara (fondly) remembers scrubbing the ceilings to prep for paint. Micah and Zak continue to enjoy cleaning the roofs off from recent snowfalls and giving continued attention to the needs of the building. So, wipe your feet when you come in!
QUALITY. KNOWLEDGE. COMMUNITY.
At Wind Rose North we stand for quality, knowledge, and community. Carrying well-known name brands, we can assure you that our products are of high quality and, let’s face it, mainly we don't want people to bring back stuff that didn't work. We get to know our customers and their needs so we can make recommendations to the best of our knowledge—and so they can leave our store with the best experience possible. We connect our shoppers with not only the surrounding nature but the community as well. Let us help you GET OUTSIDE.