Fifteen years ago, Main Street in Franklin, North Carolina, was a pretty quiet place. It wasn’t hard to find a parking space and most of the things we enjoy downtown today didn’t exist, at least not yet. Then 15 years ago, an anchor business appeared on a hope and a dream — Outdoor 76.
“There were a lot of empty storefronts and not much energy or activity. Still, we knew we wanted to be on Main Street because, to us, community has to start there,” said Cory McCall, co-owner of the specialty outdoor shop and outfitters Outdoor 76. “(Back then), it felt like people were giving up on downtown. We never thought we were the solution, but we believed we could be part of it.”
With a slogan of “your adventure begins with us,” McCall and his business partner, Rob Gasbarro, officially launched the outdoor adventure company on Oct. 2, 2010.
“Opening day anxiety was indescribable,” Gasbarro said. “We were selling $100 rain jackets in a rural mountain town, just coming out of a national recession, while many of the area’s largest employers were disappearing. Fast-forward 15 years, and everything we hoped for has come to fruition — and continues to grow.”
To preface, McCall is an eighth-generation Macon County resident.
“So, Western North Carolina isn’t just where I live, it’s really engrained into who I am,” McCall said. “I grew up spending most of my time outside — fishing, hunting, camping and exploring the Nantahala National Forest. Being outdoors was never something special or planned, it was simply how we lived.”
Hailing from Florida, Gasbarro “knew from an early age that I was a bit of a fish out of water” growing up in the Sunshine State.
“My first real connection to the mountains came during summer trips to Black Mountain as a kid,” Gasbarro said. “And that planted something in me early on. As soon as I had any independence, I did everything I could to get back to this region and spend as much time outside as possible.”
The duo eventually crossed paths in WNC, with McCall based in real estate and Gasbarro working for an engineering firm focused on bridge design and construction.
With the devastation caused by the 2008 recession, the two friends did what a lot of folks did at that time: finding themselves at this existential crossroads to really sit down and ponder their next move, this unknown chapter to possibly chase your dreams, hell or high water.
“The idea for Outdoor 76 was born out of uncertainty,” McCall said. “The recession hit hard, and the industries Rob and I were working in were both severely impacted. At the same time, we shared this deep passion for the outdoors and saw a real gap in our community when it came to quality outdoor apparel, footwear and gear.”
“There was a shared feeling that the worst of the recession was behind us and that we weren’t alone in recognizing Franklin’s potential,” Gasbarro added. “And beyond all the metrics, Franklin was home. Even when Cory and I played devil’s advocate and questioned whether this was the right town, the answer kept coming back the same — it was a no-brainer.”
Once the store opened, the shelves and showroom floor quickly filled up with an endless selection of outdoor recreation products — shoes, jackets, tents and seemingly every kind of attire or accessory needed to survive the unpredictable elements of Mother Nature.
“To this day, we remain 100% service-and-experience driven, and we let the shop follow that lead,” Gasbarro said. “When someone tells us, ‘We drove six hours to get fit for shoes,’ that lands in a way that’s hard to put into words.”
Outdoor 76 also boasts a taproom that’s a popular social haven for locals and visitors alike. And there’s regular community programming happening in the space, including fly-tying nights, Rotary Club events and Nantahala Hiking Club orientations, as well as the “Smoky Mountain Storytellers” series that’s garnered quite an audience as of late.
“There’s not much that’s off-limits (for events),” Gasbarro noted. “If it brings people together, we’re interested.”
To note, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Outdoor 76 became a hub for donation collecting and sorting. According to McCall, the collection resulted in more than 120,000 pounds of donated goods, with over 100 people showing up to lend a hand.
“That didn’t happen because of us. It happened because we allowed our space to become what the community needed in that moment,” McCall said. “It was one of the most meaningful experiences of our 15 years.”
On any given day, just when the Outdoor 76 showroom begins to fill up with outdoor enthusiasts looking for the ideal items to enhance their next adventure, it’s not lost on Gasbarro and McCall as to what they offer — a genuine space for connectivity through the sacred, ancient passion and purpose that is exploring the great outdoors.
“For me, it all comes back to community,” McCall said. “From day one, everything we’ve done has been about connecting people. The products we sell can absolutely be found online, (but) what people are really looking for, though, is experience and connection.”
“We didn’t do this for recognition. We wanted to provide a good life for our families and serve our community,” Gasbarro added. “Seeing the shop full of people engaging with staff, helping someone finish a thru-hike [on the Appalachian Trail], or getting someone on their first trail without their feet hurting — that’s the icing on the cake. And it still gives us goosebumps.”
— Garret K. Woodward
Editor-at-Large
Want to go?
Specializing in all your outdoor needs, from shoes to tents and more, Outdoor 76 is located at 35 East Main Street in Franklin, North Carolina. For more information, visit outdoor76.com.
Where to ride
With Outdoor 76 as your launching pad into the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountain ranges, there’s a plethora of riding opportunities within reach, whether it be U.S. 64 West heading towards Hayneville and Murphy or U.S. 64 East pushing into Highlands, Cashiers and Brevard.
And with the endless depths of the Nantahala National Forest surrounding Franklin, riders can also hop onto N.C. 28. Filled with countless S-curves, the route eventually intersects with U.S. 74 (connecting to Andrews and Bryson City). If you follow N.C. 28 out, you can head towards Robbinsville, a connector for the Tail of the Dragon (U.S. 129) and Cherohala Skyway (N.C. 143).
