Facebook: Pleasant Productions
THE COLLAPSE OF PORTLAND, OR
1. Nike Community Factory Store (operated ~40 years since 1984): Closed permanently after 276 shoplifting reports in one year. Nike cited deteriorating public safety and sent a letter to the mayor.
2. Walmart (both Portland locations): Closed, with 580 employees laid off.
3. Target (three stores): Explicitly cited organized retail crime and shoplifting.
4. REI (Pearl District): Closed citing high break-ins/theft (highest rate in two decades); spent over $800k on extra security in 2022, including incidents like a vehicle rammed through doors.
5. U.S. Bank (U.S. Bancorp Tower): Not renewing long-term lease. Building sold in July 2025 for $45M (down from $372M in 2015, ~88% value drop).
6. Wells Fargo: Announced plans to exit Portland.
7. Starbucks: Closed at least 56 locations in September 2025 alone.
8. Nordstrom Rack (Downtown) and CVS Pharmacy (SW Broadway): Closed, with shoplifting cited as a factor at CVS.
Malls and major centers:
9. Pioneer Place Mall: Down from ~100 stores to about 20 (called a "dead mall").
10. Lloyd Center Mall: 90% vacant, confirmed for full demolition.
11. PacWest Center: Sold Oct 2025 for $55.7M (down from $170M in 2016, ~67% drop).
12. Montgomery Park: Sold Aug 2024 for $33M (down from $255M in 2019, ~87% drop).
"Multiple retailers publicly or privately cited retail theft, organized crime, break-ins, and safety concerns as key factors in closures. Other businesses and smaller ones have also closed or raised alarms about crime and lack of enforcement.
"Context and caveats: Crime stats in Portland have fluctuatedsome categories (e.g., certain thefts, homicides) dropped from peak pandemic-era highs with task forces and added policing, but property crime, retail theft, and perceptions of safety remain major issues for businesses and residents.
"Many closures cite a combination of theft losses, staffing/safety risks, declining foot traffic, and economic factors."
