kenco: being outdoors

by Anne Pyburn Craig

November 05, 2022

Looking for the perfect gift for somebody who loves playing outside? At Kenco, our local family-run work and play outfitters, you’ll find top-of-the-line and cutting-edge equipment for kayaking and boating, camping and hiking, archery, snowboarding, and fly fishing, curated with knowledgeable, friendly customer service from people who love to play outdoors themselves. And if you’re looking to try out some winter sports yourself, Kenco’s got the clothes and gear to make sure your experience is marvelous and not miserable.

The Kennedy family began selling workwear and industrial safety gear in 1982, adding rugged, warm outdoor work clothes by popular demand and establishing their first retail space on Rock City Road in Woodstock four years later. They soon realized that it wasn’t just workers who needed gear that worked; so they expanded into clothing, footwear, and equipment for backwoods adventure, casual Catskills living, and everything in between.

Now located off Route 28 just outside Kingston, the store is a wonderland of toys and clothes for everyone. Alongside the work and play clothes and fine-quality backpacks, boots and kayaks, there are things you might not expect and won’t find just anywhere. Need a life preserver for the dog? An Under Armour “Armoured and Ready” ensemble for the newborn? Traction footgear for a winter hiker? Fly-tying supplies to keep the angler in your life amused until trout season opens? Disc golf gear? You’ll find it all at Kenco, along with comfy lounge wear, slippers, elixirs, and aromatherapy goodies to ease you into a well-earned evening’s relaxation.

“Humans were meant to be outdoors. There are so many simple and fun things you can do out there. I love to work with positive, enthusiastic customers who are excited about outdoor activities.” – Bill Kennedy, Kenco

It’s all about 40 years of giving the hard workers and players of the Catskills what they want—all sorts of things—and what they deserve—the very best. “We try to stay current on all of the gear trends in the outdoor market,” says Bill Kennedy.

“What’s obsolete? What’s the newest, hottest product? What colors are ‘in’? But the information we get from our customers is much more valuable:

The store is a wonderland of outdoor toys and clothes for everyone. Alongside the work and play clothes and fine-quality backpacks, boots and kayaks, there are things you might not expect and won’t find just anywhere.

What colors and products do they want? Do they wish we sold a new sport that we don’t carry?” Along the way, Kenco’s added an indoor archery range and Fly Fishing 101 classes, making the store even more of a one-stop shop for outdoor expertise as well as the right stuff. Kenco’s warm, laid-back welcome and friendly sales staff, outdoor enthusiasts themselves, can help you sort out exactly what you’re after; of course, they’ve got gift cards if you want to let your loved one have the fun of choosing.

And some things absolutely can’t miss: What kid wouldn’t love to find a classic sled with brakes or a snow tube under the tree? What explorer can live without an Adirondack Waterfall Guide?

Kenco’s warm, laid-back welcome and friendly sales staff, outdoor enthusiasts themselves, can help you sort out exactly what you’re after.

“Humans were meant to be outdoors,” says Kennedy. “There are so many simple and fun things you can do out there. I love to work with positive, enthusiastic customers who are excited about outdoor activities. We want to be here for years to come, so we try to base decisions on how we can grow and still make our oldest customer feel like they’re visiting old friends.”

kenco
1000 Hurley Mountain Road Kingston, NY
845-340-0552 atkenco.com