Nike has permanently closed their flagship store in Portland, Oregon after nearly 40 years of operation due to rampant crime and violence. The main issue reported by local residents and news media is the shoplifting. In recent years, the problem of theft has gotten completely out of control. Nike closed the store earlier in the year. A notice on their website first said that they would be closed for seven days. Months later, they never reopened.
Nike was working behind the scenes attempting to figure out a way to reopen. The world-famous athletic apparel company wrote a letter to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler about the store’s future. In the letter, they proposed different things that the city would need to do for them to reopen. The main thing was the issue of shoplifting. Nike requested off-duty Portland officers to control the rampant theft and even offered to pay for this service. Mayor Wheeler refused. Shortly after, the store closed permanently. This is yet another victim of the soft-on-crime policies that have impacted large parts of the United States, especially on the West Coast.
SOURCES:
Nike Community Store in Portland won’t reopen | kgw.com
Nike Community Store has been closed for weeks after a rash of thefts – YouTube
Nike officially abandons efforts to reopen its Northeast Portland Community Store – YouTube
