I remember a few years ago lamenting to one of the sales folks how much I missed my H2 that was in for service. He offered to lend me his! That's not something anyone sees very often. I have found a similar attitude with everyone I've spoken to at Orvis. Their customer service is exceptional, as are their products.

I will miss the shop and the folks who worked there.

 

I really have no use for Orvis products outside of their reels. Clothing is a bit stodgy for my taste. Dog stuff overpriced. I am sure rods are great, just never owned one.

The Orvis store downtown opened awhile ago. Mid or late 2019 maybe. On a block it will do well on I imagine. Basically right across the street from Patagonia. I occasionally walked down that way during lunch breaks pre covid. Hate to see any business go out do to covid. In this case, the company will be fine though. I feel for the employees at that location.

edit - just saw lelands post. Looks like at least some folks were moved to Seattle store.

 

I’m an equal opportunity FF junkie, and hit all the local shops intermittently, including the Bellevue Orvis just last week. I’m not afraid of DT Seattle and get down there (from NE Seattle) occasionally. I’ll visit in a month or so, shopping for a dog bed maybe. Liz’s bound to turn me out soon ;-).

 

Orvis opened in 1856... oldest mail order retailer in the country. That warrants my respect.

I’ll miss the Bellevue store.

 

I have bought some great Orvis products, but not at Orvis. Costco has carried some of their shirts, vests and others.

 

I had an orvis reel my mom bought me for my 13th Birthday in 1995. Bombproof and reliable. She paired it with a Pflueger rod. The whole outfit was a big step up from the junk I was using at the time. I knew she really couldn't afford it at the time, but she knew fly fishing was what I loved, so she made it happen.
I had it for over twenty years, and it worked just as good as the day I got it when my wife accidentally dropped the whole outfit overboard one day.

 

I had great experiences with Orvis and the Bellevue team. Most recently with the folks who helped my wife choose new waders-they were patient and thoughtful with good suggestions. The same for me when I've purchased reels, lines, flies or just stopped by with some questions. Leland and team, thanks, too for the in store seminars with enthusiastic presenters. We'll see you on the water,
Mike

 

I know this was a-typical (because of many positive comments I’ve read since) but for my first FF (5wt) rod I chose an Orvis CFO reel. When I got it home I noticed a scraping sound while reeling. Once I determined that something didn’t fit right or was bent, I returned it but moved on to a Hardy LRH even though it was a bit more $. I’ve been happy with Hardys ever since, but know that most folks like their Orvis reels too.

 

some years back we were living in Orenco Station in OR. Orvis opened a shop in that development. i went in several time only to find things suited for the midwest and the atlantic fisheries. of course clothes, clothes, clothes. this shop last about 2 years and it folded.

on my first trip to Christmas island i met a group of 5 folks who were on a trip put together by an Orvis shop in the UP. they were catching nothing so i asked to see their fly selection. would have been appropriate in the Bahamas but not on this island. ended up giving each of them 6 or 7 flies i had tied especially for this trip. the catching was good from that point on for all of us and i simply resupplied them in the evening, i had tied 300 or so for this trip.

 

As with any business, you are going to have good fly shops and bad fly shops and the same can go for employees.

Anyway, my experience with Orvis has been great. I have always gotten good customer service and a couple of times above and beyond my expectations without my asking for it. I met Leland in the shop and I have nothing but good things to say about him. I have even dealt with corporate a few times. One of my lines didn't feel write on my H3F 4 wt. I spoke to the head rod designer about it he said he would send me a line to try. I did not ask for that and the next thing I know, he sent an email to SA to send me a line to try. I have always felt appreciate as a customer.

 

Orvis, LL Bean catalogs are scattered throughout my storage boxes for many, many decades.
Will always enjoy reading them and wishing I had much more of their gear at the listed prices!

I never bought into the new guys like Sage. Old school stubbornness.

 

Orvis Bellevue is where I worked my first paying job, in 1998. It was the starting point for a career in fly fishing that lasted 20 years. Hoping they find a new location to open up another store in Bellevue.

 

I'm still waiting for Warshal's to reopen.

 

Orvis Bellevue is where I worked my first paying job, in 1998. It was the starting point for a career in fly fishing that lasted 20 years. Hoping they find a new location to open up another store in Bellevue.

I believe I was there with you Matt. Learned a lot from that store and made lifelong friends and fishing buddies.
Larry

 

I believe I was there with you Matt. Learned a lot from that store and made lifelong friends and fishing buddies.
Larry

I remember working with you, Larry. How's it going? I've bumped into Rob and Jeff a few times over the years too.

 

As a Montana-grown person with zero sea-run cutthroat experience when I moved to Puget Sound area almost 10 years ago, Leland’s advice on tactics and fly selection really helped me get into a few SRCs.

Some of their staff were top-notch, and having the store there made for a nice gift suggestion option when my wife would ask me what I wanted for my b-day: “just head to the Orvis shop and tell Jason to pull a 7’6 4 wt Superfine glass - he will know what to do” “ just ask for a few Miyawaki poppers” etc.

 

Had good times going up for Orvis days over the years. Loved the $25 off $50 coupons that came with the announcement, too.
Then they made the coupon good for anything BUT fishing gear! Removed my justification for an 80 mile round trip.

 

My experience in the Bellevue store has always been great. Waders, boots, and a Classic Bedale. Their shirts are wonderful but never fit me very well. Mediums swim on me, I’m not portly enough. I wish more of their items were made in the US... I will not go into Seattle.

 

Congratulations on a great run, Leland. I will not forget the support and enthusiasm for reinvigorating the ELOG program in WA and all of the great work done to introduce the Orvis way to many new anglers in the PNW.

Let me know if you had any YakCaddis left in the fly inventory, I'll need them on the MF Flathead and Clark Fork this Fall.

Derek

 

Congratulations on a great run, Leland. I will not forget the support and enthusiasm for reinvigorating the ELOG program in WA and all of the great work done to introduce the Orvis way to many new anglers in the PNW.

Let me know if you had any YakCaddis left in the fly inventory, I'll need them on the MF Flathead and Clark Fork this Fall.

Derek

Derek did you move? My parents live on Flathead Lake in Rollins. Next time I'm out that way let's try to get some fishing in. Brian (Bugmeister)

 

How you doing Ron? I finished my man Cave. Need to stop by some time. I am with you, why would anyone want to move a small retail business to down town Seattle. I know I will never go there. Patrick's Fly shop is hard to get to as it is with the traffic and lack of easy (suburbia style parking), Orvis isn't going to be any better.

Parking is coming...

 

Orvis, LL Bean catalogs are scattered throughout my storage boxes for many, many decades.
Will always enjoy reading them and wishing I had much more of their gear at the listed prices!

I never bought into the new guys like Sage. Old school stubbornness.

Aging yourself quite a bit if you think a company founded in 1980 is new lol

 

One day you'll know the feeling... But yes, have 4+ decades of fly fishing in so am a near lifer, pre-Sage

I started fishing young and am 56 now. Orvis and LL Bean are indeed old compared to Sage