A longtime co-owner of White Elephant Surplus Stores has left the well-known family toy and sporting-goods retail business to launch a new store that will sell boats and boating accessories.


Ed Conley, who managed White Elephants store in Spokane Valley and owned the two-store chain with brothers Pat and Rich Conley, has left that business to open the new marine store, called Elephant Boys. The new venture is located at 12622 E. Sprague, in the building that formerly had housed White Elephants boat-service department. That 2,500-square-foot building is just east of White Elephants Valley store.


Well have a full-service marina with discount prices, says Ed Conley.


Elephant Boys sells Lowe and Triton boat brands, which White Elephant had sold. The new venture also carries boats manufactured by Cypress Cay, Aluminum Chambered Boats, and Water Lodge, and sells and services Evinrude, Tohatsu, and Mercury outboard motors.


Ed Conleys son, Marc Conley, who also works at Elephant Boys, says the business has a boat service and maintenance department with a certified boat-motor mechanic on staff.


We have anything you would find in a marina-style businessboats, motors, trailers, and accessories, he adds.


The new store wont compete directly with White Elephant, which will keep its focus on sales of sporting goods and toys. Pat Conley says White Elephant no longer sells powerboats, but continues to carry a limited line of boating accessories.


Weve always carried some marina-type stuff, he says. Well still dabble in the basic stuff.


Likewise, Elephant Boys doesnt carry fishing tackle, but does sell some fishing-related items, including downriggers and depth finders, says Marc Conley.


We want to complement White Elephant, but thats not our bag anymore, he says. My dads passion is for the boating industry.


He says four of the five employees at Elephant Boys are family members.


Its still a family business, he says. Were just our own branch of the family tree.


Pat and Rich Conley remain co-owners of White Elephant, which in addition to the Valley store operates its main store at 1730 N. Division, on the North Side.


Pat Conley has returned to the Valley store, which he managed from 1976 to 2000, before he moved to his Loon Lake residence and began working at the Division Street store to shorten his commute. Rich Conley will manage the North Side store, which was founded by his father, John Conley, in the 1950s.


Contact Mike McLean at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at mikem@spokanejournal.com.