Openings & Closings

Popular outdoor clothing and gear store to close today in Johnson County

A popular outdoor wear and gear brand is closing its only location in the Kansas City area.

The North Face, located at 5004 W 119th St. in the Town Center Plaza in Leawood, is closing its doors Friday at 7 p.m., according to an employee at the shop. The location opened in late 2023.

The North Face was founded by Doug Tompkins in 1966 and named after the most challenging side of the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, according to its website. His shop in San Francisco became a cultural trading post where the Grateful Dead played live and where climbers stopped after Yosemite. It has since expanded to over 130 locations across the country.

There is no sale going on for the items left in the storefront. A reason for the closure was not given. An employee at The North Face told The Star they were not aware of the reason and could not comment further.

This location was the last North Face store in Kansas. The storefront at The Plaza closed a couple of years ago. One location remains in St. Louis.

Noelle Alviz-Gransee
The Kansas City Star
Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter for the Kansas City Star. She studied journalism and political science at MU and has previously written for the Des Moines Register, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, The Missourian, Startland News and the Missouri Business Alert.
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