Because of the increasing crime rate in Portland, NIKE has announced the permanent closure of their shop there.
The sports retailer’s management has admitted that they are exploring other sites.
Nike announced that its Factory store, a mainstay in the area since 1984, has closed for good. The decision followed a lengthy period of closure at the store, which lasted for months.
Even though Nike hasn’t said so publicly, the closure coincides with a surge in violent crime in the area.
More than 270 shoplifting incidents were reported to the Portland Police Bureau in 2016, according to data cited by Willamette Week. Municipal leaders, primarily responsible for the crime, are nonetheless saddened by the sports retailer’s departure.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said that his team and City Staff have worked hard and in good faith with Nike for nearly a year, offering innovative solutions to their safety issues.
The Soul District Business Association leaders are concerned about the district’s economic future. The district’s executive director, John Washington, described the news as “landing like a lead balloon.”
Several shops, including those of the prominent sportswear brand, have recently shut down operations in Portland.
Months after Walmart’s final two shops in the area closed, Nike followed suit.
However, Walmart executives have not said explicitly that safety concerns prompted the closures.
According to a Nike spokeswoman, affected workers can relocate to other locations.
Executives at significant stores have issued a warning about the dangers of theft.
The CEO of The Home Depot, Ted Decker, has identified organized retail crime as a “major issue” in the retail industry.
Giant Foods’ senior v.p. of operations, Diane Hicks, predicted the business would be forced to remove brands off shelves at its DC location to battle theft.
CEOs of both Dick’s Sporting Goods (Lauren Hobart) and Target (Brian Cornell) have expressed concern about the rising number of theft-related cases.
