UPside of Life: Yooper Shirts adds brick and mortar store to their repertoire

There's no doubt that starting a business in this day and age is as simple as sitting down on your computer and listing things on Craig's List or eBay. But, there's a huge difference between those types of business ventures and the one that was undertaken by Yooper Shirts.

Born in March 2010 under the careful guidance of artist/designer Jeremy "Syms" Symons of Ishpeming, YooperShirts.com has been one of two places to go to get your Yooper pride and fashion fix (YooperSteez.com is the other location, which is also run by some diehard Yoopers and worth checking out).

Syms, who started Yooper Shirts to create "Modern Designs for the Modern Yooper," had been a designer for 10 years before sitting down and making his first shirt. That was 2009 and the shirt was called sUPernatural. It sat on his computer for more than two years before Syms released it to the public. The original was grey and neon, as inspired by the Nike Air Max '95 shoe. The logo was on a white, and then a black, shirt.

Yooper Shirts was officially born. YooperShirts.com was launched with six designs. It's been a whirlwind of adventure since, with Syms finding his shirts being shipped across the globe to displaced Yoopers all over the world.

It became so popular, in fact, that it made no sense for Syms to keep the project in the virtual world. He offered his shirts to stores that would like to stock them, and he received a strong response. The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming and Marquette locations at the Marquette Maritime Museum, the Marquette Regional History Center and Redfella Records have all started to sell the sizzling hot designs that Syms has created. His shirts can also be found on MI Upper Hand, a website dedicated to selling Yooper-made goods online.

But Syms, who is always on the go with more energy than most teenagers on a Red Bull, knew there was still more to be done. So, earlier this month, he kicked open the doors on his first brick and mortar location. His gallery and shop are located on US 41 in West Ishpeming, inside the Shell Station along with Domino's Pizza. It's located right across the street from PC Medic and their unmistakable blue building (which is a great place to get your PC fixed or to have some custom embroidery done at Needle & Thread). The location is the physical display for all of those virtual shirts Syms and his team has been selling online for the past year. If they don't have the size, or color, you want, just ask and they'll likely be able to make it happen for you.

With such a quick growth and success, Syms and the gang no doubt have their eyes on the horizon and what could be next. They've been discussing plans for hoodies, baby clothes, v-necks and tank tops, among other top-secret projects that aren't allowed to be discussed yet.

No matter what Yooper Shirts comes up with, there seems to be little doubt that Syms is on the right track in bringing the Yooper masses what they want--something stylish and full of pride in the peninsula they all call home.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of the U.P. Second Wave and a full-time freelance writer. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula. He does not own a Yooper Shirts tee yet, but has his eyes set on some outstanding gear for purchase in the very near future. Eggleston can be reached via email.