[News] NW Mtn. Sports shutting down

After 35 years in Moscow, Northwest Mountain Sports is quitting business. Their liquidation sale began today, and I stopped by and bought some of their shop tools for starters. As the sale progresses they will progressively discount everything in the store, up to 90% off according to their signs.

Their bike mechanic, Bruce, will be working at B&L Bikes in Pullman. Terry, the store manager, said he's planning on taking some time off. Reasons for the store closing are probably numerous, but Terry cited the recent string of mild winters in the area as taking a heavy toll on their business.

NMS carried Schwinn and Trek bikes, and I personally bought my first (1985 Schwinn Sierra) and also my most recent (2005 Trek 6500) mountain bikes from them. It's hard to imagine either of Moscow's remaining two bike shops picking up either product line without dropping something else - showroom floor space is hard to come by. On the other hand, both brands are big sellers with high name recognition, and Moscow is a desirable market - bike friendly and full of cash-flush college kids, so it will be interesting to see how things turn out.

Rumor has it the building may become a car stereo installation place - the kind where kids with more cash than common sense install bass torture devices to compensate for personal inadequacies. Have a small penis or brain? Get a BIG woofer!