Nike closing downtown Seattle retailer amid crime wave

A downtown Nike retailer is shuttering its doorways, marking an finish to the storefront’s decades-long presence in Seattle amid a pointy spike in violent crime and a homelessness disaster. 

“We sit up for serving you at Nike.com,” based on an indication posted within the Sixth Avenue and Pike Avenue Nike retailer window reads.

The shop has been a downtown staple because it opened in 1996, however after the pandemic and rising crime,the shoe large has switched gears asserting that they are going to be closing their doorways together with different Seattle shops, like Starbucks, Seattle Credit score Union, and a number of native small companies. 

Seattle has been coping with a violent crime spike in recent times, together with a 23% enhance in deadly shootings in 2022. Town can also be contending with problems with homelessness, drug use and cratering foot visitors stemming from the pandemic.

The U.S. Division of Housing and City Improvement’s annual homelessness evaluation, launched on the finish of December, exhibits that Washington is second solely to California on the subject of its variety of residents dwelling exterior with no shelter.

Based on the DSA, November 2022 noticed greater than 2.1 million guests, which remains to be lower than pre-pandemic numbers in November 2019, however it is just barely larger than final 12 months. On the weekend after Thanksgiving, downtown’s retail core had greater than 115,000 guests, a 6% enhance over 2021’s depend.

SEATTLE BUSINESS OWNERS LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES ON CRIME TAKE MATTERS TO THEIR OWN HANDS

“For a number of years, retailers have been evaluating altering wants for house and scale. We’ve seen that in city areas since earlier than the pandemic. We by no means wish to see a downtown retailer select to shut and Niketown has been an important a part of our retail combine by way of the years.” Downtown Seattle Affiliation (DSA) mentioned in an announcement. “We’re enthusiastic about a number of newcomers who’ve opened their doorways in latest months with extra on the best way. To assist foster their success we have to guarantee a protected and welcoming surroundings, one thing that’s been bettering in downtown and is prime of thoughts for our metropolis leaders.”

Nike is following a number of different downtown companies which have lately closed, together with a number of Starbucks areas which additionally left over rising crime within the space. 

SEATTLE CREDIT UNION TO SHUT DOWN LOCATIONS OVER CRIME, CRATERING FOOT TRAFFIC

Starbucks, which is predicated out of Seattle, closed no less than six Starbucks areas within the metropolis over security considerations in 2022. 

The Seattle Credit score Union additionally shut down branches within the metropolis resulting from crime and cratering foot visitors. 

“Over the previous few years, department foot visitors has declined 55% and 49% of transactions have moved to digital channels. The pandemic has had a significant influence on transaction conduct and the adoption of digital transactions,” Seattle Credit score Union president and CEO Richard Romero informed Fox Information Digital.

Based on Nike’s web site, the subsequent closest areas to buy would be the Nike manufacturing facility retailer in Bellevue, the Nike clearance retailer in Auburn and the Nike manufacturing facility retailer in North Bend.

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Nike, Inc. didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital request for remark. 

Fox Information’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.