Santa Fe's much-beloved local outdoor gear shop, Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works, has announced it will close its doors at the end of August.
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The shop did not immediately return SFR's call, but according to a press release, "various factors"--the economy, fires, a crappy ski season and competition--are to blame. (The REI that located within spitting distance of SdC's Railyard location in 2008 can't be helping.)
But things aren't over just yet: The shop will be hosting a big going-out-of-business sale starting July 29 and stretching through the end of August.
SdC Mountain Works routinely won accolades in SFR's Best of Santa Fe issue. This year's version publishes on Wednesday.
Here's the presser from SdC (bolding ours):
SANT[A] FE, NM – President and owner Kent Little announced that Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works will be closing its doors by the end of August.
“After a great 17 years serving this community, various factors have contributed to the need for us to discontinue operations,” says Little. “While we’re enormously saddened by this closing. We’ve had a successful 17 years as a retailer in Northern New Mexico and we’re so grateful to the community for their support, especially in the past three years of economic challenges.”
Little explains that the combination of contributing factors include the economy, a bad ski season, recent fires that affected outdoor recreation, and increased competition.
Friday, July 29 will be the first day of a liquidation sale, which will continue through August.
In addition to having thousands of loyal customers, Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works has contributed to the community by working with hundreds of nonprofits and has sponsored the Banff Film Festival as well as the Northface Speaker Series.
The Banff Film Festival is an international competition and festival featuring mountain culture, sports and environment, and Mountain Works has hosted it since 1996. Little and partner Steve Bing hope to continue the event.
Much of the nonprofit community has benefitted from the support of Mountain Works, including the Railyard, the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, Forest Guardians, Esperanza Shelter, Santa Fe Prep, Wood Gormley Elementary, Santa Fe Children’s Museum, Girls Inc., The Trust for Public Land, Santa Fe Alliance, and the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market to name a few.
“Community emphasis has always been important to us,” Little says. “We’ll miss our community and the people we work with. We’re like a family and that extends out to many, many of our customers who rallied behind us and supported us in the face of a competitive market change. I’m deeply humbled by that out pouring of support.”
Mountain Works has been recognized by the Santa Fe Reporter awards, “Best of Santa Fe,” for 10 years running in first, second or third place each year.
Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works is located at 328 S. Guadalupe Street in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Call 505.984.8221 or visit shop.sdcmountainworks.com
