Recreational facilities in the mountain village of Narrowsland

Then, with surprising timing, he got a call from a colleague in another state about an existing Florida-based e-commerce vendor of paddle boards and related gear. Was Causin interested in helping run it?

Kosin said he considered the business opportunity at Narrows and successfully proposed expanding his e-commerce business to include the retail store he operates at Narrows.

Within a few months, electronic retailer Stingray Gear, whose website is gettingray.com, moved from Tampa, Florida to the Narrows. Mr. Caussin oversees a fulfillment center on one side of the Monroe Street building and is preparing to open a new Narrows store on the other side this spring.

“I'm excited that we're able to make it happen,” said Kosin, 42, who is also assistant director of information technology support at Virginia Tech.

For Narrows, acquiring the store was part of a downtown renovation plan that will be completed this fall. Facade repair crews renovated the exteriors of Muneris Insurance, Anna's Restaurant, Creekside Laundry and Tickle Properties. The project involved renovating the Farmers' Market and creating a trail beside Wolf's Creek. Officials also made arrangements to renovate a former tractor shop on Monroe Street as the location for a future outdoor equipment store. The store is located by a large section of the creek called Duck Pond, less than half a mile from the New River.

Town Administrator Terry Nicholson said downtown Narrows hasn't seen work of this magnitude since street improvement work in the late 1990s. Funding came from a $699,346 Community Development Block Grant through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and a $392,588 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Nicholson said the project utilized in-kind contributions from the town's public works program, and some property owners invested private funds.

Cozan is this outfitter Sting Layout DoorHe plans to offer river tubes, paddle boards and maybe kayaks. He says the Appalachian Mountain location might inspire something like camouflage-patterned paddle boards. He aims to engage people of all levels of ability and experience, not just those with an outdoor background, he says. He envisions outfitters providing gear for trips to the nearby disc golf course and pickleball courts the town is installing, he says.