More than 85 years ago, the National Automotive Parts Association (“NAPA”) was created to meet America’s growing need for an effective auto parts distribution system. Today, 91% of do-it-yourself customers recognize the NAPA brand name.
The North American Bear Center is the only black bear and wildlife educational facility of its kind. Dedicated to replacing old myths with facts, it lets people learn from the bears themselves about bear behavior, ecology, and their relations with humans.
Great things await you inside! Whether you visit us in Ely or here on our website, we hope your time with us gives you a better understanding of the world of black bears.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies entirely on the support of visitors, merchandise sales and people like you. We do not receive any state or federal funding. Help support our mission.
Northern Expressions is a combination ice cream parlor and gift shop in downtown Ely. Try to choose from among the many flavors in the freezer case and then go for a homemade waffle cone, or skip the cone part altogether and opt for a highly rated root beer float. A local favorite.
Established in 2000‚ and based in Ely‚ Minnesota at the edge of The Boundary Waters Wilderness Area‚ our record label, Spiritwood Music, was formed to produce acoustic music that is still pure and true and always respectful of its roots (which are as diverse as you can get). American roots music blends styles and rhythms and traditions from around the world – a great patchwork quilt of sound. And just like the components of a hand-made quilt‚ all the pieces of this sound vary as much as the people and scenery of our country – but they join together to create something warm and wonderful that covers us all. Spiritwood Music is America’s music…the sound of where we came from‚ where we are going‚ and who we are….
P.O. Box 179 3828 S. HWY 169
Ely, MN 55731
An exclusive trademarked line of clothing and gifts capturing the End of the Road spirit. Our products are carefully chosen and designed to represent our special area and all listings that represent your End of the Road, wherever on earth that might be.
The clothing items that we feature are practical, functional and affordable. Three necessary qualities when living or visiting the End of the Road.
With over 100 years of family history at the End of the Road our line of gifts represent a traditional and contemporary lifestyle.
Piragis Northwoods Company has, over it’s four decades in business, become a sort of home away from home for lots of people on the way to their Boundary Waters Canoe trips. The Piragis Northwoods Company strives to be the paddlers’ best friends up north with our award-winning outfitter operations.
In addition to outfitting our retail store ensures we have the “right stuff” in stock and our online catalog covers everything we can’t keep on the shelves https://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/.
Plum Bun Bakery is a small family owned establishment in Ely, MN. We specialize in bread, pastries, and some darn good desserts.
Our bakery specializes in wholesome breads, made from scratch with no added preservatives. Homemade cookies, muffins, scones, and individual cakes are always available, as well as a variety of Danish and Puff Pastry treats! For larger, custom cake orders, please call 48 hours in advance. Real, yeast raised donuts (YES!! Made from scratch!!) are available every Thursday, and delectable cake donuts are fried, FRESH, each Saturday morning!
Please call us 48 hours in advance for special orders!
Vintage and modern kitchen gadgets for foodies, home cooks, people who love to cook, and people who love to eat. Bakeware, cutlery, cabin-ware, and more. It’s a new store every week! If you’re visiting Ely this store is a must see!
Chapman Street Books has thousands of vintage and modern books to be had in varying degrees of quality. Prairie Fire Tobacco is a small smoke shop that sells pipes, tobacco, vintage tarot and gemstones.
Raven Productions Inc. is an independent publisher in Ely, Minnesota. Our mission is to encourage children and grown-ups to explore, enjoy, and protect the natural world and share experiences with one another through story-telling, writing, and art.
Raven Productions was established in 1995 with the production of The Ely Summer Times, a small magazine with articles about the Ely area, its people and history, a calendar of events, and all the information needed for tourists and residents to make the most of their visit or life in Ely. The Times became popular enough to expand to two editions per year in 1997. We added the Boundary Waters & Quetico Calendar in 1999, and published our first book in 2003. We now publish several books each year and distribute a few carefully select titles from other publishers.
We support our local economy, keeping our business expenditures as close to northern Minnesota as possible and dealing with other small, independent businesses. Nearly all our printing is done in Minnesota.
Our books are made with sturdy, high quality paper for durability. Our paperbacks are perfect bound and our hardcover books have library quality binding. We believe books are meant to be handed down from one generation to another, so we build ours to last.
