The History of KABN
Open Country began in the early 1990s when the owner of Mountain Air Jasper decided to open a new concept in the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Shortly after the first location of Open Country opened, Open Country Whistler opened in the newly built Fairmont Chateau Whistler in February 1992. To round out the Western resort story, Open Country Banff opened in 2005 in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Donna Dunlop started managing Open Country Whistler in October 2003, and in 2010, the original owner of the four stores sold each individually to their long-time managers. In 2011, Donna opened a second location, OC 2 Fashion + Footwear, in Whistler Village. She expanded the product selection by operating two store locations and offered a much-needed footwear business to Whistler.
What Brought About the Change?
In 2021, after surviving the start of the 2020 pandemic, it was time for a change. We wanted a fresh start for the new chapter of life after the pandemic turned the retail world around. While we’re the same owner, team, and brands our Whistler community and visitors have come to love, we wanted a name that embodied the quality and vibe of resort life in Whistler. So, enter KABN, a name both our clothing and footwear locations can live under.
Clothing & Footwear Under the Same Name & Roof
The opportunity for a new beginning presented itself in 2021. Our desire for a fresh start and name change coincided perfectly with a second retail space becoming available in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. We closed OC 2 in August 2021 after a successful 10 years in Whistler Village and transitioned to KABN, with both locations operating under the same name. KABN Quality Mountain Style & KABN Footwear now conveniently live under the same roof. Through the support of new and existing client base, we have been fortunate to survive and thrive throughout the decades. We are forever grateful to the locals and visitors who have chosen to shop with us over the years and allow us to provide Whistler with Quality Mountain Style.
