Nike made the heartbreaking decision to permanently close its Portland Factory Store. The sneaker giant had a “temporary” shutdown prompted by a massive spike in theft-related issues.
The iconic Nike store, a fixture in the Portland community since it opened in 1984, ceased operations in October 2022. The abrupt closure was accompanied by a cryptic message on the company’s website, simply stating “Closed for the next 7 days.” The store never resumed business.
Reports from local outlet KGW-TV at the time of closure detailed brazen thefts, with culprits making off with armloads of Nike merchandise, with no consequences.
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Portland Factory Store to be permanent
In February, Nike officials sent a letter to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, hoping to reopen the store.
Nike said the store was closed because of “deteriorating public safety conditions and rapid escalation in retail theft.” Nike even offered to employ off-duty police officers for additional security, with the company willing to foot the bill.
