Otto's Ski Shop in Sandy seeks new owner to continue serving winter recreation community

For 20 years, Andreanne Rode has owned and operated Otto’s Ski Shop on Pioneer Boulevard in Sandy. Now, as she prepares to retire, she’s hoping to find a new owner for the business who will love the shop as much as she has.

If Rode can’t find a buyer before the end of May, she said, she’ll need to close the business.

“Forty years ago, I was introduced to cross-country skiing and Otto’s Ski Shop,” Rode wrote in a message on the company’s website . “I fell in love with the sport and the industry and found a new passion in life. For the last 20 years I have been the sole proprietor of Otto’s and am very proud of the fact it is a woman-owned business that has provided me with a wonderful way of life.”

Otto’s Ski Shop, 38716 Pioneer Blvd., opened in 1984 by Otto and Agathe Rode. The shop sells cross-country ski and snowshoe equipment to customers across the region.

The business has been on the market for two years, Rode said. But without any takers, Rode is turning to her customers to help her find a buyer to ensure the “icon of the Nordic ski industry can go on.”

“My mind is abuzz with ideas for the transitions,” she said, “but the most ideal is finding a buyer for Otto’s Ski Shop so that it may continue serving such a supportive community.”

Rode said cycling and water sports equipment during the summer could be a good fit for the business, if a prospective new owner is willing to expand the shop’s offerings. Rode also plans to be present in the transition of the shop, should it be sold.

Currently, many items in the shop have been discounted. Any unsold merchandise will be stored and used in swap meets later this year, she said.

“Do not wait, thinking everything will get cheaper, I am offering my best prices now,” Rode wrote.

In her retirement, Rode said she hopes to take on new projects and continue to serve the community while also finding time to play and explore “the wonderful world outside of Sandy” with friends and family.

“I thank you for the opportunity of having served you for many years,” she added. “My customers have been supportive, caring, and carried me through challenging times over the years. My gratitude goes out to the employees that stood with me through the good and the difficult. The love that has been shown to me these last few months is overwhelming.”