URE Meeting place?

JeepURE

JeepURE

New Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Location
Lexington, NC
I began to wonder this today...

A year ago, my father-in-law bought the old Mullinix grocery store (he named it Mountain Market) about a mile from the entrance to the UNF. I helped run it some last summer, and still work down there once a week. Anyway, almost every time I see someone post about going to URE (not just on this forum, but others as well), they state "Yeah we're gonna be at the Outpost at XX:XXam". I know that the outpost has a lot of parking, which I know is why they attract the guys pulling trailers. But what about you other guys that drive down to the forest in your rigs? I know that there were a ton of people down there today, and from what I heard only a handful of OHV people stopped by the Mountain Market. What makes the Outpost more desirable than the Mtn Mkt? Do some of you guys not even know that it's not Mullinix anymore? I'm just looking for honest answers here. I'm doing some research for myself...aka being nosey! :b
 
I just go to the outpost b/c i have to pass it, i didn't even know there was another little store around that area. I'd be up for going somewhere else as there is always a million people in the Outpost when i seem to show up. Where exactly is your store in relation to the outpost?
 
The reason is the great majority of people come in from the north of the park entrance and go right past The Outpost. It's simply a matter of convenience.
 
I'd say it's a matter of "location, location, location" as they say in the real estate business.

We drive past your place on the way to the ORV area. We usually camp at BLCG or the Group Camp, so we are just used to going back out to the Outpost for ice, etc since it is much closer (we turn onto Mullinix Road from 109).

Plus, even for stopping on the way home, we trailer, so the big parking lot is a plus.
 
I don't go to mullinx because the first and last time I went there I got the one eyed harry eyeball the whole time I was there. It made me feel uncomfortable. like I wasn't welcome... (honest answer) in there defence I did have long hair and wore go to hell clothes, but I was welcomed at the outpost...


and location is another big factor now.
 
sheepaleep said:
I just go to the outpost b/c i have to pass it, i didn't even know there was another little store around that area. I'd be up for going somewhere else as there is always a million people in the Outpost when i seem to show up. Where exactly is your store in relation to the outpost?
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking the reason was. If you pass the Outpost, Mountain Market is approx. 1.5 miles on the other side of the entrance to the forest. You'll cross the bridge over the Uwharrie River and go up a hill and around a couple of turns. It's on the right. It says Exxon on the gas sign, canopy but it's not actually an Exxon anymore. I think the Outpost and Mountain Market are about 3 miles apart, with the entrance in between, IIRC.
 
kaiser715 said:
I'd say it's a matter of "location, location, location" as they say in the real estate business.

We drive past your place on the way to the ORV area. We usually camp at BLCG or the Group Camp, so we are just used to going back out to the Outpost for ice, etc since it is much closer (we turn onto Mullinix Road from 109).

Plus, even for stopping on the way home, we trailer, so the big parking lot is a plus.
Click to expand...

Definitely you should stop in there on your way up to the forest sometime. Parking is a big issue at the Mtn Mkt. I'm not sure exactly when/if my father-in-law is gonna expand the parking, but I know it's been talked about.
 
badog said:
I don't go to mullinx because the first and last time I went there I got the one eyed harry eyeball the whole time I was there. It made me feel uncomfortable. like I wasn't welcome... (honest answer) in there defence I did have long hair and wore go to hell clothes, but I was welcomed at the outpost...
and location is another big factor now.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the honest answer. If you dress like that down in Montgomery county, I'm pretty sure anyone that was born/raised there would look at you funny. They are so back-asswards it's ridiculous. The people who owned the store before us basically ran it into the ground. We took over April 1, 2007 and had hardly any business. Not even local people would come in. We've now gained alot of the local business, and try to be as friendly as possible to everyone that comes in. Next time you are down that way, stop on in and see what we've done with the place. We've got T-shirts, Hunt/Fishing gear, camping supplies, hardware, food, drinks, coolers, etc. Basically all the same stuff as the Outpost, just in an older location. I think that building was originally built in the 60s!
 
I'll be there the 23 and 24th (Th/Fr). I'll make it a point to at least stop in, get a coke and say hi to whoever. If I can park. :)
 
When I started reading your thread, my absolute first thought was, "Where is this place?" Then once I realized, it made sense. Like stated - I'd bet 90% of the URE traffic is coming from the north, so they hit the Outpost first, then URE. I know it's stupid, but these days people are very sensitive about driving "out of the way" b/c of high gas prices. Now, the difference here is negligible, but that general mindset is still there and you have to overcome it.

If yo ureally want to increase your traffic, try and think of what makes you DIFFERENT from the outpost - what can you offer that they cannot, that will make it for folks to drive the 3 extra miles. Then, fork out the $$ for a nice big sign on 109 heading South, just BEFORE the outpost, emphasizing this feature and "only 2 mi on Right" or whatever.
 
We used to stop by the mullinex in the late 90's when we drove our rigs to uwharrie. We would stop for gas, snacks and air up before heading home. Then the old air compressor on the side of the store quit working and the store owner never fixed it so we stopped going there since we couldnt air up. Now we pull our rigs on a 34ft trailer so there is no room at the mullinex for a dually truck and long trailer so we patronize the outpost.
 
RatLabGuy said:
If yo ureally want to increase your traffic, try and think of what makes you DIFFERENT from the outpost - what can you offer that they cannot, that will make it for folks to drive the 3 extra miles.
Click to expand...
Yep. I generally come in from Albemarle, yet drive right past your place and onto Eldorado because I'm pulling a big goose neck trailer and your parking lot is ridiculous for a rig like that. You've gotta raise your game if you expect to compete with a strong competitor like that. Here's an idea- twice I've been to Eldorado and at least one of their compressors was busted, or for whatever reason I couldn't use it. Give out free air, and have several outlets for it so a lot of rigs can air up at the same time. Yeah, it's a little thing, but I can guarantee you that there are some cheap asses who will go to your place instead of paying $0.75 for the compressor at Eldorado. There are a ton of things like that you can do to attract more traffic, and the more small things you do for people the more loyal customers you'll get. While you're expanding the parking think about putting in a couple wash bays. Yeah, 95% of wheelers won't care about washing their rig right off the trail, but you'll get a ton of traffic from the other 5% because that service just isn't currently offered out there.
 
order of importance as to what would have me use you guys

1. Secure parking for tow rigs with trailers
2. Free Air
3. Water stations to fill camp water buckets
4. Showers or sinks to get rid of trail grime
5. tools section for idiots who forget to bring them


If you already have any of them, let us know so that we'll come on down.
 
Maybe fill propane tanks too...

Do you offer Ice for coolers?? Maybe help sponsor an upcoming event, that would open some eyes up for sure!!

Or cheap hot dog prices for us cheap asses on here :beer:
 
I come from raleigh so the outpost is actually a little out of the way. I might try mtn market one time. The real reason I have been going to the outpost is because everyone goes there. There is plenty of parking. Its cool to roll in there early saturday morning and see all the rigs unloading and airing down for the trails. I guess you could say I go for the atmosphere.

Maybe next time I come down with a group we'll check out mtn market. Maybe i'll air up there next time since there always seems to be a line for the compressors at the outpost.
 
Oh and free air is a great idea. Maybe even buy a big industrial compressor (50 or 60 gal) and let people run their own air tools... or you could have it just to air up tires. Honestly I go to the outpost to air down and up, and buy a pass. Alot of times I buy a drink or some food, just because I am in there. If you can get people to come and hang out at the lot for awhile chances are they will buy something. Free air is a great way to one up the outpost.
 
We come from raleigh way, so you guys are on the way but, parking, grill. We go get breakfast at the post when we camp but, so many people in line. We willgo another mile for not waiting if we can order good food. Need a place to fill Propane
 
D'Mann said:
order of importance as to what would have me use you guys

1. Secure parking for tow rigs with trailers
2. Free Air
3. Water stations to fill camp water buckets
4. Showers or sinks to get rid of trail grime
5. tools section for idiots who forget to bring them


If you already have any of them, let us know so that we'll come on down.
Click to expand...

x2 if you expand tha parking lot include a place for tow rigs and trailers, maybe put up some lighting, and a camrea and you might be able to charge a couple bucks to park there (although that might be hard because you can not secure the lot) I would give it a shot
 
How are your bathrooms?
The ones in the Outpost are pretty, er, crappy. Functional (barely, but not much more. Now I've never been in the Women's, just assuming it matches the Men's.
Personally, I just need a hole in the ground. My wife, on the other hand, has more discriminating tastes... if she knew there was a much nicer bathroom 3 miles away, we'd be stopping there every time. This is a pretty common issue for women... something about the whole sitting-down thing...

I think the free air thing is a good idea. Nice thing about air is, well, it's free (unlike watr). You just have the cost of equipment. Now, this isn't a small cost - but I'm sure it will come back to you in business. You could institute a "free air for patrons only" sort rule, e.g. you buy something and you can use it. People will probably be intending to buy something anyway.
 
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