I didn't know how many of you may have heard, but Creason's Archery Shop in Inverness; a Citrus County landmark since the early sixties, has closed and been sold.
Eileen "Mom" Creason, now well in to upper eighties, has finally given in to health issues and can no longer maintain the business. She has ran the shop by herself, greatly aided by volunteers and friends, for the last nine years after losing her husband, Garland "Pop" Creason. Mom and Pop started their shop in the early sixties around their arow making busines selling "Creason's Custom Arrows". I can't tell you how many critters I've flung one of Pop Creason's four fletched arrows at!
I'll not give a complete history of the shop; I'm saving that for an article to appear in US Archer Magazine, but I will tell you that over the years, they've introduced as many or more people to the sport of archery than any shop in Florida.
I grew up looking forward to riding with my grandaddy to go see Pop and Mom. I'd sit on Pop's knee back in the early years and listen to him and Grandaddy spin tales of hunts gone by. Many years after my grandaddy passed away, I'd still drive up to see Pop, but I was too big for his lap, lol. I miss him terribly! My love and admiration for Mom Creason has never ended either and our families have remained close for nearly fifty years.
Just wanted to let ya'll know.
Pop Creason personally help me set up my first bow (Bear Whitetail hunter). I will never forget that man. That man forgot more about archery than most people know today
damm shame, thats just the kind of place I'm lookin for if anyone knows a good one let me know. my 2nd best hunting pards family owned a sporting goods/bait shop ( now sold) and him and her clued me in to alot of honey holes. the ol man died from alz's and I was the last one he ever said a word to in over 5 years. she was walking him in his w/c and as I approached I just said how ya doin mr Bowman, and his head snapped up his eyes lit up and he said hey Dave, then his head just dropped again. she was dumbfounded and said he hasn't spoken in over 5 yrs. shes still giving those one armed bandits hell over in atlantic city once a month when they bring the sr's there.me and there son tommy hunted alot of deer in columbia county on a farmrer friend of theirs place.
Nacho, check out George Britton's place. He's not too far from you or either spend an hours drive to Tampa and see the boys down at Arrowhead Archery. It's worth the drive.
Folks like Mom and Pop have always been rare, but to see another era pass in the sport that's given so much to me in my lifetime...it makes me sad.
Hey Toby not to hijack your thread but I am a regular at Arrowhead and I am just wondering if you have noticed a change over there since the change in ownership? I will leave names out but Im not talking about the owner but some of the guys he has in there "working" with him could learn a few things about customer service in my opinion. When the old man ran it I would spend the extra money and believe me it is extra in there just to support the local mom and pop shop because when I needed something he would always bend over backwards to help his customers. Now I find myself leaving there with a bad taste in my mouth everytime. Just wondering if you have noticed it also because I know you have been a regular there for years.
