Nike Closes Another Big Store In Democrat Controlled City

Another one bites the dust…

Nike has officially stopped its efforts in attempting to reopen its community store in Portland, Oregon.

In a press release, Nike stated “We are reimagining Nike’s retail space, permanently closing our current location at 2650 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.”

Back in February, Nike officials sent a letter to the Democratic mayor of Portland Ted Wheeler, and warned him that the store was going to close due to “deteriorating public safety conditions and rapid escalation in retail theft.”

Nike then offered to pay the city to have extra police officers outside their store due to the high theft rate but Wheeler’s office never responded.

Nike permanently closes iconic Portland store amid 'theft and safety issues' https://t.co/0f2P75H52y

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 10, 2023

After closing its Portland, Oregon factory outlet store temporarily last fall, Nike has decided to close it permanently due to ongoing issues of theft and concerns for safety! pic.twitter.com/rIVLn7vfra

— Ronald Kelly (@RonK3l) September 10, 2023

Check out what KGW8 reported:

Nike has abandoned its efforts to reopen its long-shuttered community store in Northeast Portland and now plans to make the store’s closure permanent.

“Nike’s commitment to supporting and uplifting Portland’s North and Northeast community is unwavering,” the company said. “We are reimagining Nike’s retail space, permanently closing our current location at 2650 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and considering future locations as part of this community’s long term revitalization plan. True to our roots, we will seek the input of local community organizations and leaders to determine the best new location.”

In a letter sent to Mayor Ted Wheeler in February, Nike officials confirmed that the store had closed due to “deteriorating public safety conditions and rapid escalation in retail theft,” and referenced prior meetings between Nike officials, city staff and the police, but said they had not yet reached a workable solution to reopen.

Nike offered to directly pay for dedicated police support to reopen the store, either by contracting off-duty uniformed Portland Police Bureau officers to guard the store or by entering into an agreement with the city to fund additional full-time officers. The offer included a deadline of May 1, with Nike hinting in the letter that the closure could become permanent if the city didn’t accept one of the ideas.

Nike abandons Portland store re-opening amid 'theft and safety issues' https://t.co/YPiY5fSBlC

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) September 10, 2023

Per Fox Business:

Nike has reportedly decided not to re-open its factory store in Portland, Oregon, which it closed temporarily last fall due to “theft and safety issues.”

The neighborhood’s business group, the Soul District Business Association (SBDA), said that Nike had confirmed its decision in a phone call with the group’s leaders, the Portland Business Journal reported on Friday.

The SBDA called the decision “a major economic blow.”

“This news has landed like a lead balloon in our district,” John Washington, the SDBA’s executive director, said in a news release. “We had all been holding our breath since last November when the store quietly shuttered its doors due to internal and external theft and safety issues. But, like so many of us riding out the fallout of the pandemic and protests, we held out hope that Nike, city officials and community leaders would recalibrate and realign order. But it looks like it’s game over.”

When reached for comment, Nike told Fox News Digital it cares “deeply about Portland’s North and Northeast community,” and that it’s store had provided the community with “access and connection” to the brand for almost 40 years “while serving as a catalyst for change through volunteerism, investments and partnerships with non-profit organizations that benefit the community.”