The Ground Floor: Up a Creek, a kayak and canoe retail store located in Central City

CENTRAL CITY - Eric Grodt said one of the benefits of owning his own business is that his boss doesn't make him wear shoes.

Considering that he's spent a good part of the past 35 years paddling around in a kayak or canoe, Grodt's aversion to footwear isn't surprising. Neither is his new business endeavor.

Earlier this month, Grodt opened Up a Creek, a kayak and canoe retail store located in Central City.

Raised in Cedar Rapids, Grodt left Iowa at age 18 or 19. He moved to West Virginia, which he said is the 'world capital of kayaking,” and later to Virginia, another paddlers' haven. He returned to Iowa last year to be closer to his parents.

He said the state he returned to is much different than the one he left years ago. In particular, Grodt found many opportunities for paddlesports, including human-made whitewater sections on the Cedar River in Charles City, the Maquoketa River in Manchester and the Turkey River in Elkader, natural whitewater sections on the Volga River, and many great river floats and fishing on other area waterways.

About six months ago, Grodt decided to take advantage of those opportunities by opening a paddlesports business.

'There's a need in the area for sales and service of mid- to high-end, quality kayaks and canoes and accessories,” he said. 'I'm not looking to compete with sporting goods stores that sell $200 boats.”

Up a Creek currently sells boats ranging from around $600 for a small whitewater kayak to $1,800 for a fishing kayak with a peddle drive. Grodt said he expects that price range to expand on either end as he adds more inventory.

The store also sells accessories such as life jackets, rod holders and waterproof Bluetooth speakers.

While Grodt initially thought he would locate the business in Cedar Rapids, he ultimately landed in Central City, just steps from the Wapsipinicon River.

'The Cedar isn't a great kayaking river,” he said. 'Central City is right along the Wapsi and next to Pinicon Ridge Park. The more I looked, the more I realized this is the perfect place.”

A factor in Grodt's decision to locate in Central City was a Linn County Conservation Board recommendation to remove a low-head dam in the Wapsipinicon River at Central City and install a whitewater park.

Grodt also plans to offer shuttle services for boaters and tubers on the Wapsipinicon River, including riverside drop-off and pick-up.

'I really love floating along the Wapsi,” he said. 'It's one of the clearer rivers in Iowa.”

' Know of relatively new business that we should feature in 'The Ground Floor”? Contact michaelchevy.castranova@thegazette.com.

At a Glance

' Owner: Eric Grodt

' Business: Up a Creek

' Address: 340 E. Main St., Central City

' Email: sales@upacreek.xyz

' Telephone: (319) 438-6737

' Website: www.upacreek.xyz