Bicycles, backpacks, tents, and a bright red kayak now fill the historic red barn in downtown Quincy, once home to Quincy Lumber and Supply. The equipment did not arrive in a massive retail shipment; much of it came directly from Plumas County residents cleaning out their homes and garages.
Crooked Trails, the outdoor gear consignment store at 293 Lawrence St., opened its doors in the space most recently occupied by the Quincy Paint Center. Owner Ryan Choate says community support transformed the vacant building into a bustling storefront, with locals providing about three-quarters of the early inventory through donations and consignment.
The store gives residents a simple way to clear out unused equipment without the hassle of online listings. Customers can drop off items and set up an account with just a phone number and email address. The shop operates on a tiered consignment model where consignors can receive up to 70% of an item’s selling price depending on its value, condition, age, and demand. “We never take more than the customer,” Choate said. Proceeds from donated items go straight back into supporting the business.
Over the summer, inventory focused on camping and hiking gear, paddle-sports equipment, bicycles, and outdoor clothing. As colder weather approaches, Choate plans to rotate in skis, snowboards, backcountry gear, and winter apparel.
The business marks a homecoming for Choate, who grew up camping, hiking, and skiing at the Plumas Ski Bowl before moving away to Portland, Oregon. After working at a consignment shop, teaching art for a decade, and spending another ten years in software development, Choate returned to Quincy. He left his tech career to operate the store full-time, rescuing the vacant downtown building from potential demolition.
Beyond keeping usable gear out of landfills and making outdoor recreation accessible, the shop has become a hub for locals, Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers, and visitors from Reno, Chico, and Sacramento. Former Quincy sporting-goods store owner David Arsenault noted that the store fits the local spirit perfectly: “Most people live here because they like the outdoors.”
Looking ahead, Choate hopes to offer educational workshops, such as avalanche safety programs, turning the shop into a true community gathering space.
Crooked Trails is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
