J Levinthal has been a trailblazer in ski design since he started LINE Skis in 1995. He founded the online ski company J skis in 2013. "Our customers constantly ask us if they can visit when they come into town," Levinthal said.

Now they can visit — and have a drink before or after shopping. J Skis is scheduled to open its first retail store, at 247 Main Street in downtown Burlington, in mid-November. The 4,000-square-foot building, formerly O'Briens Salon, will also house an all-ages lounge and bar.

In addition to establishing J Skis' first brick-and-mortar headquarters, Levinthal and his wife, Corrine, want to create the city’s
first ski- and snowboard-themed community hub.

"We have lots of tourists and locals who are passionate skiers and snowboarders and no central gathering place for like-minded people to hang out," Levinthal said.