itll be very tough to start a new business if you dont have enough savings to not cut yourself a check for a while. beast said it best, people seem to forget that when you open a business it has to pay the bills at home too.

i dont see a bookstore doing very well (libraries are everywhere + the internet), pet stores would take a lot of overhead to put in a decent location and then im not sure enough people would be willing to spend a lot of money to keep it open (chew toys and dog collars do not leave any profit margin)
a sports bar would have to be in the perfect location and honestly be the best bar in the world to make money in wise co.

a business with the least amount of overhead has the best chance to succeed IMO.
my dad and I have looked into several different options, from everything from striping parking lots and cleaning coal trucks, but its very hard to make money around here. you are more likely to make money offering a service than relying on retail sales.

how many sporting good stores are in Wise/Norton?
Big Stone has one that does pretty well, but I think a nice sporting goods/hunting/fishing store would do well in that area. a place that sells all sorts of outdoors stuff, works on rifles and such, etc...