Back In The Day

Norton Sporting Goods, as we know it, began in 1968 when Howard and Susan Dean purchased the small hunting and fishing store just west of the Delaware Wildlife Area. They immediately went to work remodeling the interior of the store to create an attractive and appealing retail space.
The first major addition to the store came in the early 1970s when the old “Bait Shed” was demolished and a new tackle and live bait area was added. It was also at this time that the roofline was changed to the barn style that the store has today.

The store has always been a family business. During the '70s, '80s, and '90s, all three of the Dean kids helped out at the store. In 2001, Howard and Susan's youngest son, James, took over direct management of business operations. In 2009, the building was expanded again, adding more display space for archery, tackle, and firearms.
Today, you can find James at the store almost any day of the week, along with Zack Stutler, our do-it-all guru and longtime employee with over 20 years of experience. And although Howard has cut back a little bit, he can still often be found at the store working and sharing his 54 years of experience with employees and customers.

The most important part of Norton Sporting Goods, of course, is our loyal customers, some of whom have been shopping with us for decades. In fact, in many cases, we have multiple family generations as customers and employees! Our goal is to provide the products our customers want and need at a price they can afford, all in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.
To all of our customers and friends, we say, “Thank you!” and if you haven’t had the opportunity to stop by the shop, we hope to see you soon!