Walmart announced it was out of crime-ridden Portland, Ore. earlier this year, and now the outdoor gear company, REI announced that it, too, will close its downtown Portland store as well.
Recreational Equipment Inc. made the announcement in a Monday statement:
“We are sad to share that our store in Portland’s Pearl District will close early next year,” the company wrote. “For nearly 20 years, REI has proudly served our members and the outdoor community from this location. We’ve had a presence in Oregon for over half of our 85-year history, opening our third store nationally at Jantzen Beach in 1976. The safety of our employees, members and customers is always our number one priority. In recent years, Portland has been dealing with increased crime in our neighborhood and beyond. Last year, REI Portland had its highest number of break-ins and thefts in two decades, despite actions to provide extra security.”
The company added that “we have outgrown this location and as a result are not able to provide the level of customer and employee experience we strive for at REI. For these reasons, we are no longer confident in our ability to serve you in this location. We remain dedicated to serving our community in the area and are continuously evaluating opportunities for new locations. While we do not believe a downtown Portland location will be possible in the near term, our stores in Tualatin, Hillsboro and Clackamas remain open and ready to outfit you with the gear and advice you need to enjoy life outside.”
REI has two stores in Alaska — one in Anchorage and a new location in Fairbanks. It has over 165 locations in 39 states. It’s a liberal company whose former CEO Sally Jewell became Secretary of Interior under President Barack Obama in 2013.
Other companies that have left downtown Portland include Daimler Chrysler, Airbnb, Banana Republic, Microsoft, Cracker Barrel, Umpqua Bank, Rains clothing, to name a few.
“Theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC. He added that “prices will be higher and/or stores will close” if cities don’t crack down on shoplifting crimes.
Walmart also announced it is closing four Chicago stores that are “underperforming.” Most observers recognize that is code for “losing money from looters and shoplifters.” That leaves four Walmart stores in a city of 2.7 million people.
