Shopping in Famous Grand Marais

It’s not like us to brag, but it’s rare that a person walks out our door without some sort of had-to-have-it item in their hands. It might just be a tasty truffle; however, it’s just as likely to be a truckload of gear.

Our original suppliers could only be reached by float plane. Not much has changed.

Back in 1971, when brothers John and Ed Viren opened the Trading Post, they piloted their small plane into Canada to buy goods from native peoples who knew what outdoor adventure was all about.

In addition to being an authentic artifact trading post, the store sold outboard motors, fishing supplies, boats and things of that nature. When the Virens went to sell the Trading Post itself, the focus shifted to silent sports. The authenticity of goods sold, however, remained the same.

Linda and Richard Humphrey, who at the time also owned Wilderness Waters Outfitters, expanded Lake Superior Trading Post by bringing in what Linda calls “more interesting things to look at.” And, as Grand Marais became a hub for tourism travel, the broader our shopping categories became.

Today, Linda and Richard’s children—who literally grew up inside the Trading Post—have helped their mom turn the place into the largest outdoor gear and gift store in the area. And, while many of our products come in on the highway, we’ll never lose that genuine Trading Post experience.