Next Adventure

Next Adventure
IndustryOutdoor sports
FoundedJuly 1997
Headquarters
Portland, Oregon
,
United States
Websitenextadventure.net

Next Adventure is an outdoor sports retail company based in Portland, Oregon, United States.

History

Deek Heykamp and Bryan Knudsen opened Next Adventure in July 1997 on Southeast Grand Avenue, Portland, Oregon.[1][2] The two were longtime friends and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and worked in Seattle to gain experience before starting their business. They collected gear from garage sales and thrift stores,[1] investing $30,000 in inventory.[3] 80 percent of the store's inventory consisted of used items at its opening.[1] By 1999, Jim Hill of The Oregonian reported that the business was "growing modestly"; the store had made $500,000 in revenue in 1998, with a six- to eight-percent profit margin.[3]

The company later opened a second location in Sandy, Oregon, two centers for water sports,[4] and a website to ship items internationally.[5] Between 2012 and 2015, its revenue increased from $12 million to $15 million.[6] By 2017, about 65 percent of Next Adventure's inventory was new stock. The first store continued to sell used items in its "Bargain Basement".[1] The company employed 150 employees by 2019, double their staffing from 2012.[6]

Next Adventure organized regular expeditions for sports such as skiing, kayaking, and backpacking.[1] In 2019, a participant died in an accident during a paddling expedition the company hosted.[7] These events were discontinued in 2021. Heykamp stated this was the result of an "opportunistic lawsuit", providing this as testimony in a 2023 Oregon Senate bill intended to strengthen the protection of liability waivers for outdoor sports businesses.[8]

In May 2025, Heykamp and Knudsen announced that they would be closing Next Adventure,[4] planning to shut down all locations by late 2025.[9] Heykamp said they had approached several potential buyers, but felt that none were the "right fit", with unpredictable economic conditions in the United States making the business difficult to sell.[4] In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting, Heykamp also expressed Knudsen's and his motivations to retire, as well as to "go out on [their] terms."[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hostetter, Kristin (March 20, 2017). "Retailer spotlight: Next Adventure in Portland, Oregon". Outside. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  2. ^ Richard, Terry (November 12, 1997). "Camping? Avoid cold with a yurt". The Oregonian. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b
  4. ^ a b c Nocera, Veronica (May 15, 2025). "As Next Adventure prepares to close, co-owner says Portland's outdoor scene remains 'resilient'". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  5. ^ "Next Adventure to close after almost 30 years of business". KATU. May 12, 2025. Archived from the original on July 27, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Chandler, John (August 2, 2019). "Next Adventure awaits next opportunity". Portland Business Journal. Archived from the original on August 6, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  7. ^ Theen, Andrew (January 27, 2019). "'Everything he did was with gusto': friends, family remember kayaker who died on Hood River". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "Ski resorts and wilderness guides want more protection from lawsuits". Willamette Week. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "Outdoor retailer Next Adventure to close its doors after 28 years". Willamette Week. May 12, 2025. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  10. ^ Ligori, Crystal (May 15, 2025). "Iconic Portland outdoor store closing after 28 years". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.

Further reading

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