Tim Nightengale knows a thing or two about the outdoors.

Nightengale, 42, spent 25 years in the outdoor supply industry. He worked most of that managing sales to retail stores in the Midwest for companies including The North Face and Columbia keeping climbers and hikers outfitted for their adventures.

As the owner of Wild Earth Outfitters, he's about to start his first-ever solo business venture by opening the new clothing and equipment store in Acorn Alley II.

"If you're just walking around the streets of Kent and need a new pair of shoes, we're going to have that," Nightengale said. "You kind of want to gear the store towards a broad spectrum, but we also want to have the gear for those" who specialize in outdoor recreation.

"It's an outdoor store, first and foremost," he said. "And then we have lifestyle clothing."

Nightengale's years of experience representing the most popular outdoor brands helped him whittle down the store's inventory to the most popular products for climbing, skiiing, hiking, cycling, backpacking and other sports.

"The things I not only use myself, but being in the industry things I recognized as the best of the best," he said.

The Bath Township resident and Pittsburgh native said he's excited to open in Kent because of all the development work downtown. Wild Earth Outfitters' storefront faces Erie Street and is next to the stairway cutting through Acorn Alley II.

Nightengale said he wants to open the store by the end of this month.

"In today's economy ... I think it's pretty incredible to have all this stuff going on in downtown Kent," he said.