BaseCamp is Moving Out and Dental Office Is Moving In

BaseCamp Adventure Outfitters, located in downtown Basking Ridge since 2003, will be closing shop on June 29, and Ridge Family Dentistry, a renamed local practice, is planning to fill the central location along South Finley Avenue later this fall.

Although BaseCamp employees now is packing up gear to move a few miles away to downtown Bernardsville, the relocated shop will continue to offer its customers the same quality outdoor clothing, camping equipment, and personalized attention, according to its Barbara Durso, general manager and buyer for the store. 

Sales are being held now to clear out merchandise at the Basking Ridge store at 44 S. Finley Ave., and the shop will lock its doors on June 29, according to the BaseCamp website. The store at 30 Olcott Ave. in Bernardsville is due to open some time in July.

Sometime between mid-October and early November, Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Basking Ridge, currently located at 16 Ridge St., will move to the BaseCamp location in Basking Ridge, said Annabella Oliva, office manager for the dental practice.

At the time of the move, the practice also will change its name with the move to Ridge Family Dentistry, she said. Ridge Family Dentistry will continue to offer the services of its three dentists, including Dr. Cameron Witt and Dr. Joyce Kurdian, both residents of Basking Ridge, and Dr. Lauren Simms of Morristown, she said.

The new space in the downtown will provide additional room needed for a practice that is growing and offering cutting-edge technology, said Oliva.

Durso said the space to be occupied by BaseCamp in the center of Bernardsville’s Olcott Square is similar in size. She said the reason for the move was largely to accommodate all of BaseCamp’s customers who reside in Far Hills, Mendham, Bernardsville and Basking Ridge, said Durso.

“We wanted a location that would be a little more central for all of our customers and we also liked that fact that Bernardsville has a lot of foot traffic in the center of town. It has a real specialty store feeling to it,” said Durso.

BaseCamp, owned by Jimmy and Jeff Hanson, opened in Basking Ridge in 2003, she said.

Currently the store is offering 30 to 50 percent off on a range of items to clear out merchandise. “We’re excited about reopening our store with our new early fall line,” she said.

“We’re not a big corporate entity, we’re a single store, and we try our best to offer something special," Durso said of BaseCamp. She described the store as a nice mix of clothing with a full range of camping equipment, and dedicated employees.

“We feel that we are selling an experience, and we are eager to help our customers enjoy the outdoors," Durso said of the store's philosophy. "What we offer is high end ‘technical’ clothing and camping gear.”

She said, when people hear the word ‘technical’ they generally don’t think of items like socks or tee shirts, but BaseCamp specializes in selling these items that are designed to suit a specific outdoor activity.

“For instance, we sell all kinds of socks. A running sock is designed differently than a sock you would use for hiking,” said Durso.

“We spend a lot of time with our customers and our goal is to really understand what they are trying to accomplish and help them find the very best clothing and gear so they will have a satisfying experience,” said Durso.

She said, her staff ranges from 11 to 16 people, depending on the time of year. She chooses her staff based on their passion for the outdoors and working with the public.

Durso, who moved to New Jersey from San Francisco, said she previously worked in fashion retail for companies such as the Gap. She said she focuses on offering clothing, such as the Patagonia brand, that is functional and well suited to the sport or outdoor activity, but is also attractive and stylish.

"The clothes we carry work for the sport, but you can also wear them around town or if you’re running to the grocery store, and not look like you’re in sloppy workout clothes," said Durso.

“We spend a lot of time with each of our customers, we really want to help people be as prepared as possible for what they are trying to do,” said Durso.

For more information and continuing updates, visit the BaseCamp website.