Bar Double J Supplies Celebrates Fourth Anniversary

What started out as a swap meet business has blossomed to into a store with unique as well as everyday items for your horse.

Bar Double J Supplies tack shop on South Mill Street in Tehachapi is celebrating its Fourth Anniversary during the month of February. The store has all types of new and used tack, along with clothes, boots and other gift items for the horse and rider.

"I started selling used tack at swap meets and other venues," said Jill Nelson, one of the owners. "People kept asking me 'where's your store?' I told them your looking at it."

As sales increased, a seed was planted to open a tack shop. Along with her husband, John, and friend Al Anders, they opened a small store off South Street in Tehachapi. They began buying and consigning everything from saddles to tack. Within a few months, they needed more space, and rented the adjoining rooms. Two years later, Bar Double J Supplies expanded again to its current location on Mill Street.

"We serve a niche in the area," Jill said. "We buy all sorts of tack that you may no longer used, or we consign it. Not many tack stores do that. It puts money in people pockets, and gives new horse buyers a chance to buy some less expensive, but good of good quality tack, to start with."

Saddles are a big part of the shop's business, and riders are always looking for used, nicely broken in ones. During 2013, BDJ sold 60 saddles, of which 45 were consigned. They also sell winter blankets, saddle pads, helmets, reins, bridles, halters, and lots of odds and ends.

"You never know what's coming in the door," she said. "Most of our stuff is one of a kind, so if you like it ,put down a deposit. It may not be here the next time you come in."

BDJ has branched out to fix selected items such as broken reins, bridle and blanket straps and halters.

They also do some repairs on saddles such as stirrup straps, broken or missing rings and more.

"We have all types of items from snaps and clips that cost only a few dollars, to silver inlay bits that could be a few hundred," Jill said. "We have tack and stuff in every price range. And we always willing to haggle."

During February, every customer who makes a purchase gets a ticket for gift items that will be raffled off at the end of the month. Bar Double J Supplies also plans an all-day Open House on Feb. 22.

"Come join the fun," Jill said. "We'd like to thank our customers for helping to make us a success. We hope to be here for many more years."

BDJ is located a 117 S. Mill St., Tehachapi, CA. Phone 661-823-1115. You also can find them on Facebook.