CKk1boater wrote:

According to the owner, Western Mountaineering couldn't compete with mail order
and internet sales pricing. Maintainng inventory and a brick and mortar store
is really tough these days.

It was sad to be there at one of the last Loma Prieta Paddlers meetings held
at Western. We've managed to find another venue for our meetings, but we all
miss Western Mountaineering and the ability to see and handle merchandise
before purchasing.

I think what killed them was their location: a long distance from any freeway,
and hard to remember exactly how to find it.

Their rationalizations for going out of business belie the fact that two new
specialty kayaking stores have opened in the area: Rapids and Riptides, and
another in San Jose (can't remember the name). Not to mention The Boat People.