How We Got Here

 Founded in 1986, Cool Ridge began with a hippie, a dream, and a Volkswagen Bus. The brainchild of Ross Gillispie started with sales at Grateful Dead shows and along the sides of the West Virginia roadways. 

The first physical store was in Morgantown, WV. Later he opened a second store in Beckley, WV and then opened a store in Myrtle Beach, NC. 

  Thirty-one years later in 2017 Ross sold the Morgantown store. He then consolidated the Beckley location and the Myrtle Beach store at the current location in Sophia, WV.

 In 2023 Ross sold Cool Ridge to a father and son duo of Mark, a disabled veteran and his son, Mark A Jozwik. Mr. Gillespie still visits the store to make sure we carry on his legacy of being the “Coolest Shop in Town”

  Today, Cool Ridge is an eclectic store that carries Gifts, CBD, Kratom, Handblown glass, specialized smoking accessories, T-Shirts,  and incense. Other items include tapestries, decor, clothing, and jewelry. You’ll also find the odd items you’d never thought would be in a store like this.

In 2025 we launched our online store CoolRidge.rocks so we can spread the coolness and be the “Coolest Shop Around”. Thank you all.