[April 09, 2013] PROGRESS: Hunting and fishing supplies store opens in King Tweet Apr 07, 2013 (The Stokes News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Meghann Evans -- The Stokes News Tom and Loretta Osborne have opened T&L Sporting Goods in King. Meghann Evans -- The Stokes News Tom and Loretta Osborne have opened T&L Sporting Goods in King. slideshow Meghann Evans -- The Stokes News Tom Osborne adjusts a scope at his sporting goods store. Meghann Evans -- The Stokes News Tom Osborne adjusts a scope at his sporting goods store. slideshow Editor's note: This article appeared in the 2013 Progress Edition, a supplement to the March 28 edition of The Stokes News. A new sporting goods store has opened up in King -- a place where customers can shop for hunting or fishing supplies or just sit a spell and chat. Tom and Loretta Osborne of King opened T&L Sporting Goods at 320 E. King Street, Suite C, at the start of February. The business had previously been located in a hardware store in Rural Hall, but the couple needed space to expand their shop. Tom said, "The people up here are outstanding." Loretta agreed: "We love our new customers, and we still love our old customers." The business sells rifles, handguns, ammo, bows, crossbows, scopes, knives, reels, tree blinds, targets and other hunting and fishing equipment. They will get some live bait this spring. Tom also does tune ups and other work on bows. It is an interesting time to be a hunting supplies shop owner, with certain types of guns and ammo becoming hard to find after heavy debates began to rage over gun control. "Guns that were readily available before, you can't touch them now," said Loretta. But the Osbornes work hard to meet the demands of customers and provide a good selection of items. "We want to have things available for hunters," said Loretta. The couple first opened a store in Galax, Va., which they operated for about five years. Tom loved to hunt and fish, and he came up with the idea to open his own store to cater to those hobbies. There was nothing like that where they lived, so they decided to jump into the business. "It's been enjoyable, too," said Tom. "You meet interesting people." But Loretta said she got tired of the snow, so the couple moved down to this area to live closer to family. Their shop in Rural Hall was open for a couple of years before the move to King. Loretta said, "I love it (here). I love the weather." Some people will come in the store just to chat even if they are not buying something. Tom said you can hear conversations about politics or local life or various other topics. "You can't find many places where you can do that anymore," Tom noted. The mercantile stores of the past are mostly gone, but people still like to talk and tell their stories. "There's a lot of stories out there," said Tom with a chuckle. The couple has joked about installing a bench and coffee pot up front. "We're just a mom and pop store," Loretta said. The business is also trying to get involved in the community by helping with a Lions Club raffle and hopes to support some sports teams in the future. And they have room to expand products in their store in the future. T&L Sporting Goods is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 336-983-4570. ___ (c)2013 The Stoke News (Walnut Cove, N.C.) Visit The Stoke News (Walnut Cove, N.C.) at www.thestokesnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]