Not just local fly shops are closing (not that Orvis is anything but a clothing store now)

Hard to beat the one on one connection with small stores/shops.


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You'll get no argument from me. And I think oddly small low overhead shops may be the future for these niche businesses as multiline retailers in big boxes collapse. It seems maybe endless expansion is no longer the key to staying alive as a business?
 
Brute said:
One of the companies I owned had the word Da Kine in it (not this company, but I had their phone number in Maui taped to my phone as I used to get calls for them all the time)...always brings a chuckle when mainlanders ask me what it means...
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back in the day, Da Kine had a singular meaning in da islands..lol
 
Skimr said:
I’m an old white guy! I like physical stores where folks can explain and show me things. I have had excellent customer service at the Lake Oswego Oregon Orvis store - their fishing advice and support has been spot on. Have a bunch of their upland and fishing clothing and so far it’s been top notch, especially when I can catch it on sale 🤣. Really enjoy fishing my Helios 3wt and have had outstanding luck with the Mirage LT II fly reels. While I’ll shop online, my preference is still to buy local, even if it costs a bit more. Hard to beat the one on one connection with small stores/shops.
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Is that the one behind a block away/behind a cute upscale type outdoor mall kinda like University Village in Seattle? If so I liked that REI. Had a warehouse feel. Good layout.
 
I got to go to several great fly fishing establishments back in the day:

Royal Coachman - where I learned how to tie flies (Christmas present from my wife).
Swede's - best material selection ever and great customer service.
Kauffmann's - bought my Lamson reels there. Getting customer service there was a f'n joke.
Orvis - hardly ever visited. Not sure why...

They were all fishing supply and materials store with minimal soft goods. In the early 90's the Grizzley Hackle in Missoula started transitioning from supplies to soft goods. This was in the heart of great fishing destinations too.

Now, so many small businesses and large conglomerates have closed. Prices have risen, and tariffs ain't helping one bit, More will close. Not just sports related, but all of retail. The retail industry has changed. Pharmacies and drug stores - gone. Restaurants - gone. Movie theaters - gone. Rural hospitals and medical facilities closing. Remember going to outdoor drive-in movie places? Wonders if malls will disappear. In 5 years it will be a different environment.

I am a true believer in supporting local, small businesses. Why I go to/went to Royal Coachman, Swede's, and now Creekside.

If we want them to remain in business, they need our help and support - more than ever now...
 
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RCF said:
Wonders if malls will disappear.
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Northgate basically has disappeared. Very few retailers left. It is pretty much the Kraken hockey facility and apartments for convenience to light rail.
SF
 
Stonedfish said:
Northgate basically has disappeared. Very few retailers left. It is pretty much the Kraken hockey facility and apartments for convenience to light rail.
SF
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Northgate mall opened in 1950. One of the first, if not the first, in the nation.
 
Dave G said:
Keep in mind that EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) is still an active competitor on the east coast. It may be that there ain't room in this here town for the two of 'em.
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Every EMS I've seen over the past couple years living on the East Coast look like they're closing (or are closed) with Clearance Signs hanging on the outside of the building. If you go into one you'll see they are about as much of a competitor to REI as a dachshund sled team winning the Iditarod.
 
SurfnFish said:
tariffs are driving some hard reset decisions in commerce, as what were formerly reasonable priced goods to import and sell are no longer so. Talked to an adjuster about why house insurance premiums are going up across the board, his explanation is the cost per sq' of rebuilding insured properties is rising rapidly due to tariff costs on the array of imported goods that are used in new home construction.
The reality is we the customers are paying the import tariffs, not the exporting countries.
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Commercial construction saw (at peak) 3.5% - 5% increase due to tariffs. Maybe residential is different, but I'd be surprised if it were that much different.
 
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