Initially wanting to open a ski store in Baton Rouge after organizing LSU’s very first ski trip in the ‘60s, Michael Matthews’ father quickly realized that the market for ski apparel and equipment in Louisiana wouldn’t last long. Instead, he opted to open up a store that serviced all things outdoors, from camping and fishing equipment to apparel and accessories. However, keeping the passion he had for organizing trips, Matthew’s father included ski trips into the mix. Thus, The Backpacker was born. After his retirement in the mid-2000s, Michael— freshly out of college—stepped up to take his father’s place as Chief Adventure Officer. Being a business owner at 23 years old was certainly a challenge for Michael, but once he got into the swing of things, The Backpacker flourished. After acquiring the business, he opened up a second store in Lafayette and is currently in the process of opening a third storefront in Mandeville. In this episode, Michael talks about the history of the iconic Backpacker Van, the best places to ski, and Patty-G decides he's falling for The Backpacker!
Thanks so much for another great week, and if you haven’t already, we’d love for y’all to check us out on all of our social media platforms and share with your friends and family! We’ll see you back in the studio next week!
Sponsors: Fayala Real Estate, Gov’t Taco, Horizon Financial Group, Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge, Currency Bank, & Lake Men’s Health Clinic
Patty-G Wardrobe by: McLavy LTD
The Patty-G Show Website: https://thepattygshow.com
The Backpacker’s Website: https://backpackeroutdoors.com/
