New Store Name

[Jed Peters]

So you are saying that the same staff just do not make you happy and satisfied?

No, I'm not saying that.

Well I disagree. I enjoy going and speaking with all of them and I find everyone to be as helpful as they have always been.

Vibe remains the same for me.

Good for you. I am saying nothing of the fine people that I have met and meet through the store. My personal feelings on the vibe change has nothing to do with Terry, Jim, Doug, Andy or Tim Au-Young.

Name change, well companies move fwd. Perhaps all of you devoted fans can errect a plaque to bill putting it under the watt bridge. A spot he talks of fishing on the American often in posts. this would be a nice tribute to a guy that has been in this city all these years building a spey and fly fishing community.

So then jethro will you start off the fund drive with a $150 donation?

No, I will not.

[Langenbeck]

Yes the new owners can call the store whatever they want as they put up the bucks. But why would you discard a brand that has been built over forty years and has wide recognization. Guess if these guys bought Apple they would discard the name and call it Tomatoes. In my view not a smart business decision. No knock on any of the staff-they are first rate and will continue to well serve the fly fishing community.

[Charlie Gonzales]

Is Grizzley Hackle and FishWest under the same ownership?

[DAVID95670]

I guess I’m looking at this from a different perspective, I think changing the name of the store is the right thing

Bill is a class act, there are just not enough words to describe his contributions. Maybe we should just rename Watt to Kiene’s.

Instead of cl ay heads call it keine's riffle

[Darian]

Gordon,.... I agree with the sentiment you expressed, also, that buyers/owners get to name businesses whatever they want. So far, the header of this BB hasn't been changed. In this instance, the new owners have an established name (and a former name, Grizzly Hackle). They have evidently decided to go with their existing name for all of their locations. Maybe they feel that the new name already has goodwill/recognition and will catch on(??). Who knows....???

Also, the new name may be a condition in the contract of sale. Who knows?? I've been told that Bill is on "the board" of the new ownership. If that's the case, he may not've objected to the new name. Whatever the reason, the name will still Kiene's fly shop to me.

As to the vibe, it still seems like the old atmosphere so far. The staff is unchanged with the exception that some guys from before are coming back and some new guys are coming aboard (guys we all know). I can still just drop in and talk to all of 'em. Plus, Bill still comes to the shop on occasion.

The new location is larger (square footage) and the new manager has said that he wants to expand the inventory. Lots of space for seminars and the EXPO is still on. If you haven't been in to the shop, recently, you've missed out on a "moving Sale" that was ongoing thru the point of the move. Maybe better parking available, too.

According to another thread in this forum, there's an open house at the shop on the 14th/15th of December. Check it out.

[Dave E.]

I only wish they would’ve moved to Sutter or southern Butte County.
Be thankful you have a fly shop, by any name with as deep an inventory & knowledgeable enthusiastic staffers like Andy, whose got the patience of Job.

Dave

[Rich Morrison]

I only wish they would’ve moved to Sutter or southern Butte County.
Be thankful you have a fly shop, by any name with as deep an inventory & knowledgeable enthusiastic staffers like Andy, whose got the patience of Job.

Dave

Nailed it. Well said Dave.

[Mike Stroud]

Well... Bill has always provided a sense of purist commitment to the craft, and now that is gone. Like it, or not, it's gone. Most serious fly fisherman who practice this craft will still frequent the neighborhood shops. We already have a Sportsman's Warehouse in the area, and Cabela's right up the hill. I wish FishWest the best and frankly I am a little scared, because there's a lot overhead tied into that center. For me, I took my first lesson from the ol' Fly Hutch, in the '70's adn do enjoy friendly, honest service and a hometown feel. I'll support the local guy.