WSU Connections Store in downtown Everett to close

Published 1:30 am Friday, March 9, 2018

By Becky Kramer / The Spokesman-Review

Washington State University will close its WSU Connections stores in Everett and Spokane, saying the decision was based on changes in customers’ shopping habits.

The stores have operated in the downtowns of both cities since 2014, selling licensed WSU apparel, wine and Cougar Gold cheese. The Everett store at 2809 Colby Ave. is slated to close in early June.

The WSU Connections store in Seattle closed last year.

WSU launched the three stores with the goal of enhancing the WSU brand in each community.

University officials began re-evaluating the concept last year, when the Rainier Tower — where the Seattle store was located — was slated for demolition.

“These stores were no longer turning a profit,” said Phil Weiler, WSU’s vice president of marketing and communications. “We looked at how much it was costing to keep the stores open. … Propping up a retail outlet was not the best use of funds.”

Since the WSU Connections stores opened, online shopping has become much more prevalent, Weiler said. In each of the communities where the stores were located, other outlets sell WSU apparel and merchandize, he said.

The online WSU Connections store will close June 30, but shoppers can still purchase merchandise at the university’s main online store, Weiler said.