Mountain Gear finds bigger place to play

Mountain Gear Inc. has moved from its warehouse near downtown Spokane into a larger building near Felts Field.

Company President Paul Fish said the 60,000-square-foot warehouse at 6021 E Mansfield will allow future growth and provides more space for storage and for worker amenities.

For the past six years the outdoor equipment retailer has used a warehouse off Hamilton near Gonzaga University. It offered only 16,000 square feet of space, said Fish.

Mountain Gear purchased the warehouse near Felts Field from a private owner who acquired it from the former owners of American Sign and Indicator. That company, once a technology pioneer in Spokane, used the building until the 1980s when the firm was closed down.

“The new building is much more user-friendly in design and has built-in efficiencies,” including automated conveyors, wider aisles and optimized shelving, said Fish.

It also offers a bigger kitchen for employees, a conference room, showrooms and a fitness area, said Fish. Outside is an employee basketball court.

“All this fits with our values of being a sustainable business both economically and ecologically,” he said.

The company’s retail store at 2002 N. Division in Spokane at has about 20 workers. The warehouse has roughly 35 office workers and another 25 employed in shipping and handling, said Fish.

“We’re just pushing into that 90-worker level,” he added.