They’re building their family business from the ground up and they are reaching for the stars.

Jeremy Bumgardner, his sister Julie Bumgardner and their mother Jeri Booher are the owners of Insight Astronomy, soon to join businesses at The Square in Bridgeport.

 

Specializing in astronomy and camera equipment, the retail business is slated to open its doors in the spring.

 

“We’ll carry entry-level to advanced telescopes, binoculars and eye pieces, Nikon and Canon cameras that are good for astrophotography and specialty cameras that are made just for astrophotography,” Jeremy Bumgardner said. “We’ll also have related scientific items – educational tools for teachers and kids, Lanyard Apollo items and just about anything you can think of related to astronomy.”

On display will be a giant LEGO Saturn V Rocket, as well as Bumgardner’s own photographs of galaxies and nebulae and even the 2017 total solar eclipse.

 

The interior design will reflect the nature of the business. 

 

"We're going to paint a mural of constellations up on the walls - probably mainly the ones around the north star," Bumgarner said. "That way, when people buy a telescope, we can help them set it up and find the north star and other constellations, plus it will be something nice to look at too."

 

A 2005 graduate of Bridgeport High School, Bumgardner has spent his life studying space. He vividly recalls his first experience.

 

“I was 9 years old when I got my first telescope. We ordered it from the JC Penney catalog and set it up in the front yard,” he said. “I was looking at this bright star up there and it turned out it wasn’t a star at all. It was Saturn. For the first time in my life, I was looking at the rings of Saturn with my own eyes. It was breathtaking. I can still picture it to this day in my mind. And I’ve been hooked ever since.”

 

Booher recalls one of her son's other early star gazing experience.

 

“He had me come out in the front yard to look at the moon and I thought he had a picture of the moon taped on the front of the telescope,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

 

Studying space quickly became a passion for Bumgardner, an interest he shared with his maternal grandmother, who had died when he was just a toddler. Soon, the rest of the family followed suit.

 

“It’s something bigger than us,” Bumgardner said. “As humans, it’s hard to comprehend something within us that makes us want to explore.”

 

In January of 2001, the family and other area astronomy enthusiasts started the Central Appalachian Astronomy Club, holding the first meeting at Fairmont State University.

 

“We’ve been going strong for 19 years now, getting more and more people involved,” Bumgardner said. “We do activities every year, including Astronomy Day at the (FSU) Caperton Center. Last year, we started participating in International Observance of the Moon and that happens every year in October. Our biggest event of the year is our Star Party at Greenbank Observatory, where there are hundreds of participants, classes and hands-on activities.”

 

In 2008, the organization added a Junior Astronomy Club for Harrison County students in grades three through five.

 

“We love getting kids interested,” Bumgardner said. “There’s so much potential for younger people to get involved and make a career of astronomy.”

 

Though Bumgarner explored other careers, he returned to his life’s passion.

 

After graduating from BHS, he studied astrophysics at Penn State University after which he moved to Nashville to obtain a recording industry degree. He then returned to West Virginia to earn a law degree.

 

“Now I’m back to square one,” he said.

 

The family is excited to be part of a revitalized downtown Bridgeport and is happy to have secured space at The Square through Vast Holdings, LLC.

 

“We looked at other sites, but this kind of fell in our lap,” said Bumgardner of the 1500-square-foot space previously occupied by Appalachian Tire.

 

He looks forward to sharing his love for astronomy during a very exciting time in its evolvement.

 

“Technology has improved so much compared to what I was doing 10 years ago. It has grown by leaps and bounds,” he said. “It’s very easy for people to get into it. There are telescopes you turn out and point to an object and it tells you what you’re looking at and automatically takes pictures for you. Stuff like this was unthinkable 10 years ago. Plus, it’s a lot more affordable.”

 

Booher believes the Internet and the media have helped to build a fanbase for astronomy.

 

“The public is more aware of what’s going on. It piques their interest,” she said.

 

 

Insight Astronomy is a unique business.

 

“There aren’t many competitors and there’s nothing in this area like it. There are only two or three (businesses of its kind) across the U.S. and the others are in New Jersey and California,” he said.

 

As noted earlier, the new business also features an educational element. In addition to purchasing equipment, customers can learn how to use it from those who are very knowledgeable.

 

“We’ll set up equipment and show people how to use it, instead of purchasing it and becoming frustrated,” Bumgardner said. “We’ll have some photography classes and our ultimate goal is to hold our Junior Astronomy Club meetings there and also get local school teachers involved and host student field trips.”

 

Business reps will also travel to Star Parties and related events to serve as a vendor. 

 

In addition to the brick and mortar store, Insight Astronomy will also feature online business.

 

The business owners are in the process of reviewing prospective logos and other pre-opening legwork.

 

“We will take possession of the space March 1 and will hopefully be set up and read to open in April,” Bumgardner said.

 

There aren’t any major sky watching events coming in 2020.

 

“At least in the U.S., there aren’t. There is the solar eclipse in Chile,” Bumgardner said. “But there is always fun stuff going on.”

 

Stay tuned to Connect-Bridgeport for details and the store prepares for opening to the public.