SMYRNA, Georgia — The city of Smyrna recognized Adventure Outdoors and the Wallace family for 50 years of business, entrepreneurship and community service with a proclamation.
Adventure Outdoors, founded in 1976 by brothers Jay Wallace and David Wallace, first opened in Belmont Hill Shopping Center as The Scavengers Nest: Dealers in Unburied Treasure. It then evolved into Smyrna Pawn Brokers and later into Adventure Outdoors.
City officials credited the Wallace family’s work ethic, customer service and long-term commitment to Smyrna with helping build one of the Southeast’s best-known outdoor sporting goods businesses. The proclamation described Adventure Outdoors as a landmark business that attracts customers from across Georgia and beyond while contributing to Smyrna’s economic vitality and identity.
The proclamation also recognized Jay Wallace and the Wallace family for supporting local organizations and causes, including the American Legion, Support Smyrna, Truth in Nature and the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation. City officials said those efforts reflect the family’s commitment to veterans, youth, public safety personnel and the broader community.
The city also highlighted the family’s continued role in the business, with Jay Wallace, his wife, Cecilia, and their sons carrying forward the tradition of local investment and service established five decades ago.
“We celebrated at the last council meeting, and … those who had been in business in Smyrna for 15 and 20 and 30 and 50 and I think even 70 years,” Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton said. “But this, this one is super special to me personally.
“I’ve been there when Jay Wallace and family paid off all the debt at the Smyrna American Legion, and they had to burn the debt documents,” Norton added. “I’ve seen them participate in Support Smyrna. They’re active in this in the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation. They were at the Smyrna Business Association not too long ago, sponsoring kids for scholarships, helping our veterans, and it’s just the list goes on and on and on. So y’all love this community, and shows, and this community loves you back.”
The city also announced that it would rename Glendale Place on the west side of South Cobb, next to the store, Jay Wallace Way.
Norton said the city recognizes Adventure Outdoors and the Wallace family not only for building a successful business, but also for their contributions to Smyrna’s character, growth and community spirit.
The proclamation honored and congratulated Adventure Outdoors and Jay Wallace on the company’s 50th anniversary.
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