Washington reported that local businesses had experienced declining foot traffic and deteriorating financial conditions as a result of the store’s prolonged closure.
Iconic store
Washington lamented the decision, stating, “Why close down a flagship store that has supported Black Portland for over 40 years? It was an economic driver in this area, and we should be looking at the long-term impact of that closure.”
The Nike Community Store had been a cornerstone of its Portland neighborhood since its grand opening in June 1984, anchoring the core of the city’s Black population.
The store’s establishment on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, originally named Union Avenue, had been a collaborative effort between Portland civil rights and education activist Ron Herndon and the Black United Front, working in tandem with Nike in the 1980s.
Rising crime issue
Nike is not alone in experiencing a big increase in retail crime. This is not just happening in Portland, hundreds of retailers that sell big-brand products are closing throughout the country.
