Posted on 04/17/2023 9:00:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Another day another store going out of business in Portland. Last week I wrote about a coffee shop closing a downtown location because of rising crime and problems with violent street people. Today, outdoor retailer REI announced it was closing its only Portland store because of increased crime and theft in the area.
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 said they are evaluating opportunities for new locations, but do not believe a downtown Portland location is a possibility in the near future.
The store experienced a brazen theft last November when someone drove a car through the front entrance and stole a bunch of merchandise on Black Friday.
Portland police said on Black Friday someone used a car to break the entry door in order to steal clothing before leaving the scene. These brazen crimes seem to be happening more and more in the city…
Blake Schmidt lives in The Pearl and works at REI.
“It’s frustrating, I work here at REI,” Schmidt said. “I’ve seen a lot of changes here in the last couple of years, it’s hard.”
The store has been talking with Mayor Ted Wheeler who seems to be under the impression that police have done a good job coordinating with the store about the theft and break-in problem. In fact, Wheeler’s spokesperson gave a statement saying the city was working to help REI remain in the city: “Mayor Wheeler is committed to further supporting REI to help ensure we retain their business in Portland and help them succeed. All options are on the table as we explore paths forward.” But it sounds like there are no more paths forward. The store will close for good next February when the company’s lease expires.
Just last month Walmart announced it would close its remaining stores in Portland. Nike has also closed one of its stores several months ago and last month asked the city if it could hire off-duty police officers in the store. But the city said no and the store is still closed.
Nike is the epitome of a woke retailer so they don’t want to say out loud that the problem is theft by homeless people who never get prosecuted, but that’s what is happening. And no one wants to admit that all of this stems from defund the police efforts and nightly riots so that inconvenient history almost never gets mentioned by anyone. Here’s a local news report on the REI closure.
Antifa is just the Democrat's 21st century goon squad. Just like union thugs were in the 20th century and the KKK in the 19th century.
Mayor Wheeler is insane which is why the stupids elected him. They got what they wanted and “the working class people” got the crime and now, no good stores to shop at.
This is not America. It is pure Marxism and needs to be destroyed.
Wow, that's pricey! Those must have been First Editions, leather-bound rarities, and other collectibles!
But I agree with you: There's nothing I love more than snuggling up with a good book on a winter's evening!
Regards,
My wife and I watched an Amtrack train go by this morning. We agreed that it would be fun to take another trip to Portland on the train. We used to go down to the zoo and the malls and spend the night. Then we both remembered what a leftist sh*thole it has now turned into.
Bookmark
Commies infiltrate everywhere. Just the other day I saw a retard with a “Keep Portland Wierd” bumper sticker. In Fairbanks, AK. Yes, he was also wearing a mask, all alone in his car.
Pathetic.
With their love for abortion, the Democrats certainly have made a covenant with Death and with Hell are they in agreement.
Fulfilling that passage perfectly.
[“Your verses & contributions to Free Republic are appreciated.”]
Thank you very much. I have many struggles of my own; I hope to share some insight here and there and try to warn some small portion of the world of what is coming....Satan’s End Times Deception via 7 years of ‘Peace and Security’ - I hope some are paying attention and that the verses and information (and most importantly, the Gospel) get shared far and wide.
for that reason, I changed my FR homepage several years ago and do slight modifications to it every now and then.
For what it may be worth.
When the Lord comes, I hope to be found doing His work - even if some tiny way, through this lowly servant (who is far from perfect in many ways)
Japan needs diversity and inclusion...
while wallmart and home depot blame the economy
Communist Shanghai and Christian Seoul are pretty as well.
The way things are going, soon there simply won’t be any stores in Portland. Or San Francisco. Chicago and LA are rapidly headed in that direction.
Merchants aren’t that stupid. To really protect yourself kill off public transportation. Once public transportation is in your neighborhood so are the thieves.
This is exactly what will happen. I go further I’m my thinking that it will back to the days of The 1930s with gangsters shooting people in drive by fashion.
Only if those items are purchased, not stolen.
I am not impressed with REI. They just opened one here in Tampa about 18 months ago, so I went in. On the walls is things about global warming, and then everything in it is made in China. I asked the manager, who looked like he was rejected at Starbucks for to many tatts, if they are so concerned about Climate Change, why isn't their products made here.
I bought a lot of great outdoor stuff at REI. It is their brands like Patagonia that are so full of leftist drivel.
I got a pair of Zamberlain GTX boots from them that are like Raptor Pickups. Go everywhere with power.
Praise the Lord-—And Pass The Ammunition.
I think spell check got him. He meant boots, i believe since REI’s selection of books is mainly hiking guides and outdoor cookbooks, all below $110.
BTW, $110 for a pair of winter boots is a decent price if you want halfway decent quality. My Sorel’s were over $150. My hiking boots were $250 and almost worn out.
The ferals must be stealing all the cool kid clothing they sell at REI. They sure aren’t taking climbing gear and kayaks.
I really struggle with the cool kid clothing. It’s expensive and generally high quality that lasts long, but I don’t groove on having a great brand name on my shoulder. Most of the cool kid gear I have is thrift store.
We got an REI in Charlotte. I was excited because I remember their catalogs. Unfortunately, I’ve never met a bigger bunch of condescending, holier-than-thou sales people in my life.
A couple years back, just before Christmas, I asked a sales person if an item would be on sale after Christmas. “Oh, we don’t have sales. But you can join our membership and get a discount.” (No sales was a lie.)
Another time...I was in to buy a Nalgene container. The girl at the cash register asked if I was a member, I said “No.” She said “Would you like to join?” I said “No. I just want to buy this.” She said “Do you have a friend or relative that’s a member that you can call?” I said “No. Can I just buy this?” Another employee, standing to her side asked “What do you not like about saving money?” I said “What do you not like about selling your products?”...left the container on the counter and walked out. Bought a Nalgene at Amazon.
At this point, REI is just an Amazon sales floor for me. Need a pair of boots? I’ll try them on at REI...and buy them at Amazon.
Never heard of REI. Had to look it up on line.
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