In a recent move, outdoor retailer The North Face closed its downtown Seattle store. This adds to the growing list of national brands that have left the central business district, creating a gap in the downtown shopping area.
North Face Shuts Down Seattle Store
On Sunday, outdoor retailer The North Face permanently closed its two-floor, 15,000-square-foot flagship store at 520 Pike St., which it had occupied since 2019. Callers are now directed to other North Face locations in University Village, Bellevue, and Southcenter.
This closure adds to the challenges faced by downtown Seattle, which is beginning to recover post-pandemic but still suffers from low foot traffic.
Recently, a Los Angeles-based company announced it had purchased Pacific Place and planned to revamp the struggling mall into "a first-class shopping experience with a uniquely Seattle flavor."
Denver-based VF Corp., which owns The North Face, did not comment on the closure, nor did Tishman Speyer, the manager of the 520 Pike building.
Industry experts believe the closure reflects local issues and broader challenges in the outdoor clothing sector, where VF Corp. has seen declining sales.
"Consumers are cutting back on outerwear," said Neil Saunders, managing director at retail analyst GlobalData. "Even strong brands like REI have struggled recently. People are not upgrading outdoor gear as much as they used to, and that's hit North Face."
The North Face, famous for its hiking and camping clothes, has been popular in Seattle, especially for its rain jackets. However, it joins other major brands like Nike and Lululemon, which have closed their downtown stores.
These closures highlight the struggles of downtown Seattle's retail core after the COVID-19 pandemic. Crime has become a major issue, adding to the challenges for businesses in the area.
According to the Downtown Seattle Association, the city had 2.1 million visitors in November 2022. While Thanksgiving saw a slight rise in visitors, with over 115,000 people in the retail core, the overall trend has been negatively affected by the pandemic.
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Downtown Seattle Retail Faces Growing Challenges
Earlier this year, athletic apparel brand Lululemon confirmed its closure from Pacific Place, citing decreased sales. This move followed the impending closure of Fox's Seattle, a long-standing jewelry store.
These departures have increased anxieties among other downtown business owners. Nearby vacancies raise concerns about safety and overall foot traffic, according to a report by KOMO News, which first broke the Lululemon news.
Seattle's downtown core is grappling with more storefront closures, raising concerns about safety and long-term economic viability. While some businesses hope for benefits from return-to-office initiatives, the success of these measures remains uncertain. Improving public safety and creating a more attractive downtown environment will be crucial for recovery.
Mayor Bruce Harrell submitted new legislation to the Seattle City Council earlier this year as part of his Downtown Activation Plan.
The proposed changes to the Land Use Code aim to fill vacant commercial spaces in key areas like Downtown, Belltown, Uptown, and South Lake Union by providing greater flexibility in allowable uses and broadening the pool of eligible commercial tenants.
Meanwhile, when Nike closed its downtown Seattle store last year, the staff across Sixth Avenue at The North Face were surprised.
"They're making a mistake," North Face manager EJ Reiser said at the time, emphasizing that the corner of Sixth Avenue and Pike Street was one of downtown Seattle's prime retail locations.
However, just over a year later, North Face has followed Nike out of town.
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