In a recent opportunity to sit down with SouthPark magazine’s Natalie Dick, the owner of Jesse Brown’s, Bill Bartee, gives a little insight into his fast paced mind.
Some Highlights from the Article:
The following are excerpts from the SouthPark Magazine Article by Natalie Dick.
Connecting to Nature
- Bartee’s connection to all things outdoors is intrinsically linked to his upbringing on an Angus cattle farm in nearby Clover, South Carolina.“My introduction to the outdoors — or my vocation, as I like to call it — was doing my chores. My three younger brothers and I would feed the cattle and horses and do other chores before and after school,” he says.
Redefining the Brand
- Before Dick’s, Bass Pro Shops and REI, there was Jesse Brown’s Outdoors. Founded 55 years ago in Greer, South Carolina, by Jesse and Elizabeth Brown, the store relocated to what is now South End in the ’80s, permanently putting down roots in SouthPark in 1993. A year later, with a loan from his family, Bartee bought the business.“Starting at ground level at Jesse Brown’s taught me the importance of detail,” he explains. “Paying attention to the feedback — positive and negative — that clients, company representatives, and senior employees shared has helped me be a better mentor to the younger generation, our future leaders.”
Connecting to Nature
- “The beauty of Jesse Brown’s is you get to outfit people, but you also get to meet these people who have incredible backgrounds and talents,” Bartee shares as he enthusiastically describes the store’s popular Storyteller Series — think mini-TEDx Talks — held quarterly.“It started with customers coming in and sharing their incredible stories of travel adventures or personal experiences while they shopped,” Bartee continues. “That morphed into everyday people taking Jesse Brown’s stage to talk about their journeys, whether climbing high mountains, hiking the Appalachian Trail or some other life-changing experience.”
Who is Bill Bartee?
- He’s president-elect of the Charlotte Rotary Club for 2026-27. He also actively promotes the SouthPark business district as a board member for SouthPark Community Partners.Bartee and his wife, Elizabeth, who have four children ranging in age from middle school to college, will celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary in April. When I ask if his family is outdoorsy, he laughs and replies, “Well, my wife is the sport!” He recalls a challenging backpacking trip the couple took as newlyweds from Black Mountain Campground to Mount Mitchell. “I had overloaded her pack, and after a couple of miles, she let me know. It was a tough trip until I redistributed some of the weight to my pack — whew!”
We at Jesse Brown’s are proud to share the pursuits and accolades of those we spend our time with. Bill Bartee has been with Jesse Brown’s since 1989, and been the owner since 1994. Come by the ‘brick-and-mortar’ to prepare for your next adventure, or to share a thrilling story of your last one!
Many thanks to SouthPark Magazine for sharing Bill’s story, and more relating to Jesse Brown’s, over the years.
