Adventure 16 has closed their doors after 58 years in business

Sadly after 58 years in business Adventure 16 has closed their doors for good. Adventure 16 was a legendary outdoor retailer founded in San Diego County. The store’s president John Mead, whose uncle Mic Mead incorporated the business, said the store has experienced a decline in gear sales and a major slowdown in foot traffic in recent years. That, plus the changing retail landscape and the cost of doing business in Southern California, were too much for the independent retailer to go on.

John Mead made the statement “It’s no secret that our style of retailing is under intense pressure,” Mead said in a statement. “Big box and online shopping, including direct selling from manufacturers, is on a steady rise and continues to outpace traditional specialty stores like A16. We’ve fought the good fight and now it’s time for us to strike camp and move on.”

Adventure 16 was founded in the climbing and mountaineering age in California. Adventure 16 employed 35 people.

Dec 9th 2023 Ted Foster