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Nike Inc. closed down its store outlet in downtown Seattle last week, citing the surge of violent crimes in the area. The move comes after the state recorded a 23% increase in shooting cases last year, and most incidents were fatal.
The closure of this store is said to have ended the Nike store’s decades-long presence in the vicinity. Aside from the sharp rise in crimes, it was mentioned that Seattle is also dealing with homelessness crisis; thus, the sneaker and sportswear maker decided to close.
The state has been seeing many business closures in its downtown area recently. Prior to Nike’s departure, many other major brands, including the Starbucks coffee chain, have also shuttered their stores.
As per The Seattle Times, the discontinuation of Nike store’s operation is another blow to Seattle’s retail business since it is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was added that based on the data gathered by the Downtown Seattle Association, the monthly visitors in the area fell to less than 500,000 in April 2020. This number is very far from the pre-pandemic record, which is more than two million.
Customers are advised to visit the brand’s website - Nike.com - to buy products. The company also hung signs in its Sixth Avenue and Pike Street store windows to let visitors know about their permanent closure. The maker of Air Jordan sneakers first launched these outlets in 1996.
In any case, Fox Business reported that Seattle has been struggling to deal with violent crimes that have increased in recent years. The state saw especially saw a huge increase in fatal shootings in 2022. It is also fighting other pressing issues, including drug use and homelessness.
"For several years, retailers have been evaluating changing needs for space and scale. We’ve seen that in urban areas since before the pandemic,” Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) said in a statement concerning Nike’s closure. “We never like to see a downtown retailer choose to close and Niketown has been a great part of our retail mix through the years but we are excited about several newcomers who have opened their doors in recent months with more on the way.”
Photo by: Paul Steuber/Unsplash
