The Gnarly Varulfr is Ely’s gnarliest leisure shop featuring skateboards, skate gear, incense, clothes, shades, hats, bags, an art gallery, vinyl, camp gear, and more. Stop in an learn about the Legend of Gnarly Varulfr!

Since 1976, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has been the voice for clean water and wilderness. Our vision for the future of this national treasure lies at the intersection of people, communities and wilderness. Visit our website to discover more about this national treasure, from how to plan your next (or first) visit to how you can help preserve the wilderness for future generations.

Our story began innocently enough, out in the fields of produce that my wife and I were tending during our time as farming apprentices. We learned some great life lessons out there, stuff you can’t learn from a book. One day I said something like “wouldn’t it be funny if we made cranberry apple granola and called it Crapola?”. I say lots of things like that, but for some reason, this idea actually became a reality. The next thing I knew, a business was born. Be careful what you say in front of your wife. It could change your life forever. Since our humble beginning almost ten years ago, we have grown our product line and our distribution area. We have put the “fun” in “functional” food, and reminded scores of people about the importance of fiber in their diet, in our own signature style. We have had a lot of fun marketing our granola, but we’re serious when it comes to quality. Just like we learned in farming, it’s worth taking extra time and effort to do things the way we believe is best. Running this business has been far more work than we imagined, but we learn as we go and take pride in our accomplishments. We have grown the business, but the business has also grown us. Each day brings new opportunities and we’re excited about the future. We want to sincerely thank our “regular” customers for supporting us all these years!

Casual counter-serve chain for build-your-own sandwiches & salads, with health-conscious options.

Portage North, formerly Kondos Outdoors was born in Ely in 1980 out of a need from outfitters requiring gear that could withstand the rigors of being on trail all season long. With a roll of fabric, some thread, and the determination of crafting the best gear, Dan and Vicki Kondos started Kondos Outdoors. For 35 years, Kondos developed the gear we all have come to love and depend on for making our wilderness experiences successful. In 2015, I took on the task of carrying that legacy forward. I grew up venturing into the Boundary Waters from the age of three and spent much of my formative years exploring the Ely wilderness. In 2017, I married my wife, Corissa, who had been guiding BWCA trips for seven years and is the director of Rock Ridge Christian Camp since 2015. We enjoy being able to take our personal experiences and knowledge and incorporatethat into how we design and build products for Portage North and share the wilderness experience with others. By bringing in state of the art cutting and sewing equipment, implementing continuous improvement philosophies, researching the best materials, and having a 1.4 million acre test lab to vet our products, we strive to craft for you the toughest gear that will last you and the next generation a lifetime. From our families to yours, Michael and Corissa Larson Shop online for: Packs, Camp Kitchens, Camp Organization, Canoe Gear, Tarps & Tents, Totes, and Commuter packs & bags.

We are an independent, locally owned bank, committed to you and your success. Local people. Local decisions. At your service. On your side.

Our wholistic approach enables us the ability to identify and understand who your organization and clients are, as well as what challenges you both face. With this knowledge and our creative partnership, we can correctly determine and prioritize a list of creative solutions that support both who you are, and fulfill your needs and those of your customers.