Two prominent outdoor brands have announced retail expansions, with Outdoor Research opening a new store in Washington state and Columbia Sportswear launching its largest flagship location in Japan.
Outdoor Research Opens Bellingham Store in Historic Fairhaven
Outdoor Research has opened a new retail location in Bellingham, Washington. The store, in the historic Fairhaven neighborhood, spans 2,736 square feet and features a curated selection of the brand’s technical gear.
The Bellingham location showcases Outdoor Research’s full product range, including mountain bike apparel, outerwear, and sportswear, alongside the company’s heritage gloves, gaiters, and headwear. The store aims to serve as both a retail destination and a community hub for the active Bellingham outdoor community.
“Bellingham is a launch pad for so many outdoor adventures—whether you’re riding Galbraith, skiing Baker, or exploring the North Cascades,” said Bellingham Store Manager Ben Harvey. “We’re beyond excited to open our doors in a community that lives and breathes the outdoors, and we can’t wait to welcome both locals and visitors into our space.”
Grand Opening Celebration Aligns with Mountain Bike Festival
The timing of the store opening coincides with the Northwest Tune-up mountain bike festival. The company will celebrate the store’s opening Thursday with a special event featuring food trucks, drinks, a DJ, raffle prizes, and storewide discounts.
Professional athletes from Outdoor Research’s ambassador team will attend the celebration, including mountain biker Bas van Steenbergen and pro freeskiers Mark Abma and Micah Evangelista. The festivities will continue on Friday morning with a group mountain bike ride departing from the main South Galbraith Mountain parking lot.
“We’re stoked to open just in time for Northwest Tune Up, a Bellingham tradition,” Harvey added. “It’s the perfect way to kick things off—connecting with the mountain bike community, soaking up the festival energy, and showcasing pieces from our Freewheel MTB collection, built for high-output trail riding, technical terrain, and long, fun days in the saddle.”
Columbia Sportswear Launches Largest Japan Store in Harajuku
Columbia Sportswear Company has opened its largest retail location in Japan, situated in the center of Harajuku, Tokyo, according to Retail Asia. The new flagship store spans two floors and offers the brand’s most extensive product lineup available in the Japanese market.
The store design incorporates natural materials including wood and stone, creating a blend of Columbia’s outdoor heritage with modern, urban aesthetics.
Columbia’s new store in the Harajuku area of Tokyo. Photo courtesy of Columbia Sportswear.
Collaborations and Community Events
To mark the Harajuku store opening, Columbia hosted a pre-opening event that brought together the local community with music and festivities. The store features limited-edition items created in collaboration with artist north NADO, available exclusively at the Harajuku location.
