With the big-box stores dominating the market, it’s rare to find a flourishing family-owned business — but Potter Brothers Ski and Patio defies the odds. First opened in 1945, the business now consists of five shops, including four local outlets and a spot at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Massachusetts (as well as a revamped on-line store). Third-generation owner Kyle Potter, who currently runs the company with his cousin Jake, credits their success to their over-the-top enthusiasm. “When that first snowfall hits, we’re pumped up and ready to go,” Kyle laughs. “And we want to get our customers as excited as we are.”
But perhaps it’s the oh-so-cozy relationship the shops have with our local ski areas that really seals the deal. “We try to make it affordable for everybody, so we offer discount lift tickets, rental programs, great deals on gear, and lots of swap sales,” says Kyle. Especially appealing are the flex and discount packages, which allow guests to save up to $14 per daily lift ticket — and skip all those long lines at the slopes. Participating ski areas include Hunter, Catamount, Windham, Belleayre, Thunder Ridge, and Jiminy Peak.
The stores also host annual jacket sales, collecting used jackets and donating them to local charities around the Valley. And the best part? “For each donation, we’ll give you a 15 percent discount off a brand-new jacket,” Kyle says. But don’t think they close up shop once the snow melts. When the temperature heats up, Potter Brothers sells high-end patio furniture at its Kingston and Fishkill stores. Good thing this family is here to stay.
Potter Brothers Ski & Patio
57 City View Terrace, Kingston. 845-338-5119 or www.potterbrothers.com
Fishkill, 845-297-2941. Middletown, 845-344-2680. Poughkeepsie, 845-454-3880.
Click on any image below to view some of Potter Brothers’ products
