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Gander Mountain

March 8th, 2011

Gander Sporting Goods
Long ago the avid outdoors man was forced to resort to the likes of the local super store for most wilderness related products, but today the Tyler resident has an outdoor super store to match it’s super outdoors.

Gander Mountain will bring to you the equipment you need to achieve your wildest survival fantasy, or just your wildest camping or hiking fantasy, either way rest assured when it comes to the wild Gander Mountain has what you need. It’s classically easy to be unprepared in the wilderness, that is why Gander Mountain must be so huge, It’s takes a comprehensive outlet to accommodate the needs of survival and out door recreation.

First off Gander Mountain needs to supply you with all of the practical weather resiliant clothes for your specific environmental condition, which they have done in their fully equipped  men’s, women’s and children’s clothing sections stocked with waterproof, cold proof, and heat resistant material for your climate. But weathering the elements is only part of natures challenge, as anyone who hunts or fishes will tell you.

Although fishing and hunting have come far from their fundamental beginnings there is still a prominent recreational following in today’s society. The sports of hunting and fishing have long since opened themselves up to modern technology and subsequently an entirely new and state of the art market for equipment which Gander Mountain is happy to supply.

Every hunting and fishing accessory under the sun is available, even products to train a dog to participate with you can be found, right along with wireless scouting cameras as well as entire fishing boats ready to lead man into the unforgiving and mysterious adventure of wilderness adorned in high powered LED’s and GPS tracking devices.

Land vessels are also for sale on Gander Mountain, giving you portable horsepower to aid in whatever quest you deem suitable for four wheels. If you are more sporting or exploring minded, however, the selection of kayaks and other boats could interest you. Gander Mountain has it all, tents, sleeping bags for all temperaments, purifying water bottles and coordinating computers.

Truly, it is hard to imagine any place better suited to prepare you for the requirements of raw nature.
Gander Mountain in Tyler
Gander Mtn
Gander Mountain in Tyler TX

Tyler Athletics

January 12th, 2010

There is another sporting goods store in Tyler I have neglected to write about until now. Tyler Athletics is to area sports programs what Gander Mountain is to sportsmen. They do not carry outdoor gear, but when it comes to athletic equipment they are extremely well stocked. The selection is not what Academy Sports is due to the size of the place however they certainly make the most of the room they have. Better still they have a small business personal touch that the larger shops can’t duplicate.

The market T.A. serves consists largely of local schools (public and private) and other community sports programs. They can fill large orders or small. The merchandise they offer for local schools looks great and is very professional.

Tyler Athletics also carries merchandise from just about all the Texas colleges, as well as professional sports teams. Signed memorabilia from any number of Texas sports celebrities is displayed around the entrance of the store and serves to validate the owner’s connection to area athletics.

Overall this is one of the better such outlets in town. It definitely surpasses Racquet and Jog for quality and selection of actual sports equipment. Not as large as Academy it does offer local customer service. They are located at 5201 S. Broadway, next to Double Dave’s Pizza. For more info visit their website at www.tylerathletics.com.  Back in the day Tyler Athletics was known as Massey and Brown Sporting Goods and was and still is the best place to get baseball and softball gear in Tyler Texas.

Gander Mountain in Tyler

January 8th, 2010

Over the last few years, the sporting goods mega store / museum has become the order of the day. Now, I realize I often tend to favor local business over larger chains. But in this case, I’m taking a different tack. These new stores often serve as a show case for the latest and greatest new products in the sporting goods world, sort of a Sharper Image only useful and fun.

Well Tyler now has one of its own in Gander Mountain. A visit here has something for everyone. Even my little boy is entranced by the stuffed game of all kinds which hangs on the walls. To him, it’s almost like visiting a zoo or a museum.

Admittedly the Tyler Gander Mountain, (located on South Broadway) is not the most well stocked sporting goods store in town. In comparison to someplace like Academy Sports, G.M.s market is smaller since it caters more to the outdoorsman than the athlete. It is one of the few places (other than book stores) however, where I actually enjoy browsing for browsing’s sake.

The fishing and tackle section is a vortex I find it easy to get sucked into. A visit to G.M. prior to a fishing trip increases the cost of my trip exponentially. The camping section is full of temptation as well but fortunately (or unfortunately) my budget doesn’t allow for too many impulse buys of items contained there.

It prices at Gander Mountain are not particularly low. Much of what they stock is larger, high dollar items. For those of us in the market for smaller things like fishing lures or bait the prices are slightly higher than elsewhere since the customer is essentially paying for the selection. It’s generally worth it though since a trip here is in and of itself, an experience. For more information see their website at www.gandermountain.com, or better yet, stop in for a visit. They’re located at 151 Market Square Blvd. just off South 69, in Tyler TX.

Movies in Tyler Texas

December 20th, 2009

For showtimes at all the movie theaters in Tyler we recommend using an online service like Flixter, Fandango, or RottenTomatoes

Because Tyler, TX is a mid-sized city that is overshadowed by titans like Dallas and Fort Worth, people often say there is nothing to do in the city. There are no pro sports teams, and major concerts with big name artists are rare. Maybe this is true to a degree but virtually ever resident of Tyler Texas love movies and restaurants. There are hundreds of restaurants in the city, but there are three movie theaters: The Hollywood Rose, Carmike 14, and Times Square Cinema. Below is a brief description of each of these.

Movie Theaters in Tyler

Hollywood Rose Cinema

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $7.75

This west Tyler theater was built in the 1990’s, and remains a popular choice for many young people in the city. However, “The Tyler Rose” is generally considered the worst theater in Tyler. The staff members appear to hate their jobs, and the floor is perpetually sticky. The movie viewing, too, is subpar. Expect problems with the projector and sound, and maybe even the temperature. But the biggest problem with The Tyler Rose is the chaotic atmosphere. The theater is ground zero for high school loiterers who have nothing better to do than attract attention to themselves. Fights are routine, and there are often policemen roaming the premises. For other high schoolers, this might be an attractive atmosphere. But not for parents who want to send their kid to a movie, and not for adults who just want to watch a film in peace.[ad#large-blog-block]

Carmike 14 in Tyler

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $8.25

Carmike 14 is Tyler’s largest and most modern theater. It is located close to a hoard of shopping outlets on South Broadway such as Kohls, Target, Walmart Super Center, and Gander Mountain. Carmike 14 is a fine theater, offering digital projection and 3-D movies (when they are available.) The staff are generally cheerful and competent. The stadium seating, too, is great. I have few qualms with Carmike 14, other than the slightly higher prices and the problem of crowds. But at least the crowds are there because it’s a good theater, unlike The Tyler Rose.

Times Square Cinema

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $7.50

Long before The Tyler Rose or Carmike 14 were ever built, movies in Tyler Texas were being shown 7 days a week at a little theater in Times Square on South Broadway. The theater has just six screens, and a small staff. It has an entirely different feel than most modern theaters. It’s a much more down to earth atmosphere because it is a family owned and operated business. When you go there, you can expect digital projection, 3-D viewing, and a clean atmosphere. The screens are smaller than the ones at the other theaters, but the experience is better overall. The best part? The high school kids prefer to hang out at the bigger places. Times Square patrons are their to watch movies, not to attract (or repulse) potential mates.

Video Rentals in Tyler

If you prefer to rent movies in Tyler Texas, there are still two Blockbuster video stores, one on 5th and Beckham, and one on Troupe in the Green Acres Shopping Center. Hollywood Video is still renting to customers on South Broadway. Ten years ago, this city was crawling with video stores! But the advent of Netflix and RedBox movie kiosks have made those places irrelevant. If you want to rent a movie in Tyler, it’s easier and cheaper to drop into WalMart or MacDonalds. Update: Netflix and Redbox have destroyed all rental movie stores. Sorry but you will have to mail order your video rentals, do pay per view, or use the redbox and blockbuster video vending machines around town.