Anne Porcher, Haynes, and their daughter, Betsy
The late Marjorie Polk Burnett was always a mover and a shaker. Never afraid of hard work and moving forward despite the odds of success and bringing her grand and innovative ideas to fruition again and again, she was ahead of the curve when it came to business endeavors.
I knew her in high school, and even then, despite the ever-present angst and competitiveness common in teenage girls, Marjorie was a bright light, always with a genuine smile and an open face. Her obituary sums her up: “She was frequently described as 'one of a kind' and 'remarkable,' labels no doubt associated with her non-judgmental nature that put others at ease while making them feel like the most special person in the room. Marjorie had a natural curiosity towards people and enjoyed hearing others’ stories and life experiences. She was a kind, gentle listener filled with deep wisdom from her own life experiences.”
Yep.
When she opened the Blue Angel on the Northshore, long before the Northshore was cool, my friend Angie and I feasted on the Haystack weekly. Packed with flavor and everything Southwest, this everything salad was a must for lunch, and a quick visit with Marjorie was always a highlight. I can’t remember if the restaurant came before or after her first shop, River City Apparel, but she opened the first store I knew about that offered brand name merch at a deep discount. Later she and her husband, David, opened Mountain Outfitters in Monteagle, which offers all-things-outdoor, from camping equipment to Lululemon wear and everything in between. This go-to place has been both a stop for folks on the way to Nashville and a destination, but now there’s no need to travel.
Her children, Haynes and Betsy, and Haynes’ wife, Anne Porcher, have opened a second location on South Broad Street in the Southern Saddlery Building and are very excited about planting roots in Chattanooga.
“It feels like both a new adventure and a homecoming," says Haynes. "Our mom opened her first outdoor store here in the 1990s, so in many ways, this is a return to where it all began. But more than that, it’s about building something for the future. [My wife], Anne Porcher, brings incredible vision, creativity, and heart to this next chapter. She’s thoughtful, community-minded, and has such a great eye; our mom laid the foundation, and Anne Porcher is the future."
Chattanooga’s Mountain Outfitters will share the same spirit as the Monteagle location: warm, down-to-earth, and people-focused. It will have the same vibe and essence that folks love about Monteagle, but will boast more square footage and more inventory.
“The big difference is that we’ve been able to really grow our offerings in fly fishing and climbing gear, which we’re so excited about," says Haynes. "And with more space upstairs, we’ve dedicated even more room for our beloved outlet deals - something we’ve always had upstairs in Monteagle. Everything in our outlet is always 50% off, all the time - no gimmicks - because we want the outdoors to be accessible to every budget."
Juggling day-to-day life with business logistics and launching a new location has been a challenge, but it’s also been a joy for this family.
“The most fun has been building this as a family dreaming it up together, hauling fixtures, picking paint colors, and laughing through the chaos,” Haynes says, adding that one of the most surprising and most moving parts has been how kind and embracing the Chattanooga community has been.
“We’ve felt so welcomed, supported, and encouraged from day one. The Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain communities, along with St. Elmo and South Broad, have made us feel at home and genuinely excited to be here. We’re eternally grateful for that,” Haynes said.
I asked him what his mother would be saying right now.
“She’d probably say, ‘Haynes Burnett, you’ve got to be kidding me.’’’
But he added that his mother would be secretly loving every minute of it, beaming with pride and crying happy tears at the grand opening.
“My mom would be so proud to see Anne Porcher taking the lead and carrying the vision forward with grace, style and grit. And she’d probably be in the corner, cracking a joke, holding a pug, and completely winging it - just like she always did, with unmatched humor, hustle, and heart,” Haynes says.
Marjorie’s children echo her, and not just by the fact they are carrying on the business she started. When you pop in at 3001 Broad St., you will be greeted with genuine warmth and interest as you are bathed in their lovely light. And you will immediately feel the presence of an angel.
* * *
Ferris Robinson is the author of three children’s books, “The Queen Who Banished Bugs,” “The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds,” and “Call Me Arthropod” in her pollinator series “If Bugs Are Banished.” “Making Arrangements” is her first novel and is available in paperback and on Kindle. “Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity” is a collection of true tales about man’s best friend. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.
Ferris Robinson