Outdoor recreation stores report record sales amid socially distant summer

Festivals, sporting events and concerts have all been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But business is booming for companies that cater to people heading outdoors to pedal, paddle and pitch tents. 

With gyms and fitness centers closed and public transit use discouraged, escaping to parks, lakes, rivers and paths has become more popular than ever. As a result, shops selling bicycles, kayaks and camping equipment have reported up to a 300 percent sales increase over the past months.