First Look: Arc’teryx opens first-ever store dedicated to climbing
Canadian outdoor apparel and equipment brand Arc’teryx Equipment has opened its newest outpost in the United States.
The brand opened its newest store on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, Calif., on Oct. 3. The location marks Arc’teryx’s first-ever retail concept dedicated exclusively to climbing, and is the “next evolution” of its presence in Southern California, according to the company.
Arc’teryx Abbot Kinney pairs a “curated, climb-focused” assortment with a climbing wall, a lounge, an outdoor patio, and a beta board, giving local climbers a place to gather, train, learn and connect, the company said. It is Arc'teryx's fourth location in Los Angeles and fifth in Southern California.
The Abbot Kinney store features a focused selection of Arc’teryx climbing apparel and equipment alongside a curated assortment of third-party climbing products, A built-in Grasshopper climbing wall can be activated for events, with routes and holds updated regularly by local partner Long Beach Rising.
Nearby, the Beta Lounge features furniture from local design studio Waka Waka, climbing guidebooks and current issues of climbing outlets Alpinist and Summit Journal.
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Throughout the store, large-scale athlete imagery is paired with in-depth displays featuring photographs, artifacts, books, and written narratives about climbing. The store will also feature Arc Presents, a rotating projection series bringing climbing films and other content into the space.
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(Image courtesy of Arc’teryx Equipment) -
(Image courtesy of Arc’teryx Equipment)
An outdoor patio provides additional space for guests to gather and recharge and can be configured for workshops, small gatherings and screenings, while flexible fixtures throughout the store allow the retail floor to transform for films, workshops, talks and other events.
“At Arc’teryx climbing is part of our DNA and community has always been core to how we think about retail,” said Delaney Schweitzer, general manager of Arc’teryx, North America. “The shared connection we have to climb with the Los Angeles community was the catalyst for the creation of this new store concept. With Abbot Kinney, we’re creating a new expression of that climbing heritage for Los Angeles — preserving the character of an existing building while designing a flexible space that can move between retail, climbing and community programming.”
Founded in British Columbia, Arc'teryx’s products are found in more than 2,400 retail locations worldwide, including at more than 260 branded stores.
Last month, the brand relocated its longstanding Sainte-Catherine Street store in Montreal to an expanded site developed around its "Alpha Store" format. Spanning three levels and nearly 10,000 square feet, the outpost represents Arc'teryx's largest investment in its Montréal retail presence to date.
