Adventure 16, a once-legendary outdoors retailer founded in San Diego County, is shuttering its doors after 57 years in business.

The company points to unbearable competition from big box and online retailers as the reason for its closure. Founded in a garage in La Mesa in 1962, A16 had grown to employ 200 employees at its height in the mid-2000s, stretching to seven stores. The stores specialized in climbing, hiking, and other outdoor adventure equipment.

Today, however, only two stores remain: San Diego’s Grantville location and a spot in West Los Angeles. Both stores will be closing before the end of the year.

The store’s president John Mead, whose uncle Mic Mead incorporated the business, said the store has experienced a decline in gear sales and a major slowdown in foot traffic in recent years. That, plus the changing retail landscape and the cost of doing business in Southern California, were too much for the independent retailer to go on.


“It’s no secret that our style of retailing is under intense pressure,” Mead said in a statement. “Big box and online shopping, including direct selling from manufacturers, is on a steady rise and continues to outpace traditional specialty stores like A16. We’ve fought the good fight and now it’s time for us to strike camp and move on.”

A final sale of the store’s inventory starts on Black Friday and will include a purge of outdoor equipment. Then on Dec. 7, the stores will begin liquidating rental gear, fixtures, and a large collection of vintage and antique props.

A16, which was founded in the golden age of climbing and mountaineering in California, has a storied history among outdoors enthusiasts. The store’s Los Angeles Tarzana shop, which closed in 2018, was a who’s who of climbers thanks to its proximity to Stoney Point Park. Rock climbers Royal Robbins, John Long and John Bachar were regulars, hanging out and buying specialty gear.

According to the outdoors industry news site, SNEWS, several former employees of A16 went on to become industry leaders. A16 employed 35 people as of its closing announcement.


A16 will be closed Tuesday through Thanksgiving in preparation for its closing sale.