Outdoor World Liquidating Capitola Store, By Jondi Gumz

COMMUNITY NEWS Outdoor World Liquidating Capitola Store

By Jondi Gumz

For more than 50 years, the Thomas family has been supplying outdoor enthusiasts in Santa Cruz County, first at Peninsula Surplus, then at Outdoor World. Now that long run is coming to an end, with the Santa Cruz store closed and an ongoing liquidation sale at the Capitola location.

At its peak, Outdoor World employed up to 50 people at three locations. Now about a dozen people will be out of work when the store at the Capitola Mall closes.

“It’s unfortunate,” said Chris Thomas, one of the co-founder’s sons, who said factors connected with the COVID-19 pandemic led to the decision. The pandemic disrupted dependable global supply chains as lockdowns slowed or halted raw materials and finished goods in multiple sectors, with experts recommending diversifying sources for products.

Under California’s health mandate to stay at home, stores selling outdoor gear were not considered essential and shuttered for a time, then restricted. Fewer people shopped at brick-and-mortar stores, opting to shop from home online.

Doing business in California is tougher because of its regulations, according to Thomas, who anticipated more regulations on the horizon.

His son is one of the people working at Outdoor World.

“My wife and I are ready to go to the next chapter in our lives,” said Thomas, who is 59.

His father, Bob Thomas, foresaw a demand for outdoor supplies when he and his wife Liz took their three sons fishing, hunting, and camping in national forests and national parks in the 1960s.

In 1969, he tapped his savings to put his brother in a partnership business, Peninsula Surplus, on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. In the mid-1970s, his brother left to pursue other interests and Bob’s two young adult children joined him. He felt confident enough to leave his job with Longs Drugs, and the year 1978 brought a new name, Outdoor World, a corporate structure and a larger location at 136 River St. in Santa Cruz.

With the strong U.S. economy of the 1980s and more people camping, hiking, and fishing, Thomas’ third adult child, daughters-in-law, nieces and nephews joined the business to work at new locations, Seaside in Monterey County and Capitola.

Shoppers looked forward to Outdoor World’s weekly flyer detailing the best buys.

In 1998, Outdoor World created an e-commerce website where people could make their purchase online.

After 30 years in the business, Thomas retired in 2008 at age 74 from daily operations, turning those responsibilities over to younger family members.

Outdoor World was voted “best outdoor store in Santa Cruz County” for five years in a row by readers of Good Times. Then came COVID-19.

The Seaside store closed in June 2020 after the pandemic brought a stay-at-home order for all but essential businesses.

The Outdoor World logo was designed by a member of the Thomas family.

The Santa Cruz store closed Aug. 14, its future clouded by the city’s project to widen the intersection of Highway 1 and 9 for safety reasons.

The widening project, which cleared an unsanctioned camp set up by homeless people and necessitated removal of the bold yellow “River Street” sign, is designed to reduce traffic congestion by adding a left-turn lane for cars heading south on Highway 1 to turn onto Highway 9, additional lanes on Highway 9 and River Street.

This stretch has been the site of a

Shoppers at the Capitola Mall walk by Outdoor World, a family-owned business that is liquidating that location.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

At its peak, Outdoor World employed up to 50 people at three locations.

number of crashes as truck drivers and motorists sped into the area, not anticipating a traffic backup.

The Capitola store started out in the Five Star shopping center, took the space in the mall vacated by Sears, and most recently moved to a smaller space where K&B Toys once was.

Hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores have closed nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic pushing people to shop safely from home.

In Capitola, “for lease” signs are posted on 41st Avenue and also in downtown Santa Cruz, historically two of the county’s strongest retail areas. n •••

Hours for Outdoor World Sporting Goods, 1855 41st Avenue, Capitola: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. To reach the store, call 831-479-1501.