Portland's only REI store to close early next year, citing rise in break-ins, thefts

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LOCAL NEWS

Portland's only REI store to close early next year, citing rise in break-ins, thefts

In a letter to members, REI said its Pearl District location saw its highest number of break-ins and thefts in two decades last year, despite adding security.

Author: KGW Staff
Published: 12:11 PM PDT April 17, 2023
Updated: 10:23 PM PDT April 17, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. — The REI store in Portland's Pearl District will close at the end of February 2024, the company announced on Monday. ... In a letter to REI members, the company cited concerns over safety and an increase in crime over the last few years as reasons for the closure.

"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," REI said in its letter.

REI also added that they have "outgrown" their store near Northwest Johnson Street and Northwest 14th Avenue and "are not able to provide the level of customer and employee experience we strive for at REI." The company said their lease is up at the end of February next year, which is when the location will close. ... In November 2022, someone used a car to break the front door of the store and steal clothing before leaving the scene.

The Pearl District location is the only REI store in Portland. REI has other locations around the Portland metro area that will remain open including stores in Tualatin, Hillsboro and Clackamas. ... REI said they are evaluating opportunities for new locations, but do not believe a downtown Portland location is a possibility in the near future.

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Community reacts to closure announcement of Portland's only REI store

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Author: kgw.com
Published: 11:43 PM PDT April 17, 2023
Updated: 11:43 PM PDT April 17, 2023

THE STORY
Downtown Portland's resemblance to a dead mall

REI is vacating its longtime Portland location, but new businesses are still coming in. Newcomer Shake Shack was welcomed with a broken window.

Author: Pat Dooris
Published: 5:54 PM PDT April 18, 2023
Updated: 7:24 PM PDT April 18, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. — When you think about a mall, its success is often measured in the number of stores open and operating. If the mall is doing poorly, they close — and the more closed storefronts, the worse the perception of the "health" and prosperity of the mall.

The mall can function as something of an analogy for thinking about downtown Portland, even if the latter is at a much larger scale. The more businesses that thrive downtown, the better for the whole. The more that suffer, the worse.

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