REI’s Portland, OR flagship store, located in the Pearl District, will be permanently closed due to crime and concerns for employee and customer safety concerns.
The outdoor retailer has serviced customers from the location for nearly 20 years.
“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 an e-mail to members and the media. “The safety of our employees, members and customers is always our No. 1 priority. In recent years, Portland has been dealing with increased crime in our neighborhood and beyond.”
The retailer also noted that issues with the space contributed to the decision to close, stating, “We have outgrown our current space, and the building requires significant investment to address issues that we have been unable to reach an agreement on with the landlord. As a result, we are not able to provide the level of customer and employee experience we strive for at REI.”
The store will close in “early 2024” when the lease ends in February 2024.
REI said they are evaluating opportunities for new locations but do not believe a downtown Portland location is possible in the near term.
REI noted that with the closure of the Pearl Street location, REI has locations nearby in downtown Portland including Tualatin (12 miles away), Hillsboro (12 miles away) and Clackamas (15 miles away).
