New sporting-goods shop opens on Lebanon square; owners plan e-bike rentals, upstairs suites

Layton Brown Sporting Gear opened this winter on the south side of Lebanon’s courthouse square, bringing fishing, bicycles, youth-sports equipment and other outdoor gear to downtown, owners said on episode 199 of the Love and Lebanon podcast.

The store’s owners and managers said the shop supplements nearby restaurants and aims to bring more foot traffic to the square. They also described plans for a spring e-bike rental pilot and a separate second-floor buildout that would create three extended-stay suites targeted at short-term business and traveling visitors.

Joe LePage, the City of Lebanon communications and community development director, introduced the segment from the storefront and said the business adds “an experience for folks that are coming downtown in Lebanon.”

Rob Crawford, director of operations and the property owner for the adjacent Chop House, said he bought the property in October 2018 and supported downtown improvements that followed. “I saw the vision for what the city wanted to do,” Crawford said, describing how street and alley improvements later increased activity on the square.

Crawford and Brady Martin, director of sales, said the store grew out of conversations with neighborhood business owners and customers. Martin said he joined the Chop House operation in March 2023 and helped develop the retail concept: “I’ve been with the group, yeah, since March of 2023.”

Inventory at Layton Brown includes fishing tackle, bicycles (including e-bikes), baseball equipment and other outdoor and athletic goods. Crawford said the store will pilot a rental program for Traxxas e-bikes in spring, so customers can rent by the hour and test models before buying. “We’ll be launching this in the spring as a rental program,” he said.

Upstairs, the owners described an unrelated property venture to add three extended-stay luxury suites: two units of about 525 square feet and a front unit of roughly 600 square feet. Crawford and Martin said they are targeting a Q1 2026 completion for the second-floor work.

The owners also explained the store’s name as a nod to local history. They referenced an old hardware tenant associated with the square and the restored mural on West Main as inspiration for the Layton Brown name.

Layton Brown Sporting Gear’s current advertised hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Sundays. The shop operates an online store at www.lbsgear.com and said it will use email and social media for promotions and giveaways.

Owners and managers framed the project as part of a broader downtown revival, saying nearby restaurants and the Big 4 Trail help make the location viable for retail and short-term lodging. They emphasized community ties, hiring local staff with sporting interests and tailoring inventory based on conversations with customers and employees.

No formal municipal approvals, permits or funding sources were discussed on the podcast; the program details and timeline the owners listed are their business plans and targets.

Plans mentioned on the podcast — the e-bike rental pilot and the upstairs suites — were presented as upcoming projects rather than completed actions. The owners asked listeners to check the store website and social channels for updates and launch details.