I called Marmot up yesterday about skiis and other equipment..I
inquired whether Western Mountaineering would have the same stuff
since I was going to be in the San Jose area..The sales person
indicated that they closed that store last year (03')...Is this
closure another due to the REI in Saratoga or a lack of outdoor
enthusist??? I know they closed the Kentfield Store 4 years ago..I
thought it was us cities in the central valley which lost stores of
this genre....

John

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.


Happy boat'n.....
See you on the river!!!
(Conrad)

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.