The beloved outdoor store and bike shop on Ballard Ave is reopening its doors in July with new ownership taking over.
Ascent Outdoors and Ascent Cycles shuttered unexpectedly in April, with owner Solon Scott announcing he was filing for bankruptcy.
The man now at the helm is Sandeep Nain, tech industry worker-turned mountain guide. After five years working for Microsoft, Nain founded guiding company Miyar Adventures in 2014, and has since expanded to include a gear store in Redmond.
“I want to bring back the local store, its welcoming nature, personable customer service, quality gear, and community events without competing with the bigger stores,” Nain told SNEWS.
“I believe that customer service is the key component of success. Additionally, by being Indian, I want to inspire persons of color that the outdoors is an inclusive environment.”
SNEWS reports that at least five of the former staff will return to work, and Nain will look at making a few changes, such as potentially absorbing the bike store back into the main shop.
In addition to his work with Miyar, Nain is also an instructor with Seattle Mountaineers, and has served on Everett Mountain Rescue for five years.
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So grateful to see this. Thank you, Sandeep!
Great news! Thank you Sandeep!!
Sandeep bought a store?! Congrats! Sandeep is wonderful, so happy to find out about this and excited to see how things change under new ownership.
This is more great news! I’m so glad it will be owned by someone connected to the industry and the outdoors.
This is great news.
I loved Ascent Outdoors. They always had a great selection of gear that I would actually use. I attribute this to the fact that many of their employees were mountain guides, alpinists, and avid outdoorsmen. All the employees were also friendly and very helpful.
Nothing wrong with REI but these days it feels like they are really pushing REI brand gear, ‘fashion’ glamping and hiking gear, and selected brands they’ve reached marketing deals with. Their year end dividend is great but I’d much rather support a smaller shop like a ascent Outdoors. Hopefully with this change of owners Ascent will be around for many years to come.
This is great news! Sounds like Sandeep is a great guy and I wish Ascent 2.0 success. Sandeep, if you do get the urge to expand after getting things under control, southeast Seattle is a gear desert! Columbia city would be a great spot for a second store.
So happy to see it’s going to stay around! Thank you Sandeep!
One respectful request: please don’t rehire those rude, white, hat backwards hipster basics up front on the register, after 16 years of shopping there, those two that have rotated the register have deterred myself and others I’ve talked to from stopping in more and shopping.
Please, more diversity to this store!!!
Thanks Sandeep!!!