I stopped in at the Nike Factory Store located at Hagerstown Premium Outlets on Saturday to pick up a new pair of Air Max 1 Quick Strike Betsy Ross shoes, only to discover the store was going out of business.
I was shocked.
The store was pretty much gutted. The items that were still in the store was selling at a 30 percent discount. I tried to find a pair of shoes, but much like it’s been for the last 19 years, the selection of size 15 shoes left a lot to be desired.
I never bought a lot of stuff at the Nike Factory Store, but it wasn’t because for a lack of trying. I would go there looking for shoes in my size, but most of the time, it was for naught. I desperately wanted them to take my money. Rarely did I find something I wanted. Worse, I usually saw shoes I loved for cheap, but they didn’t have them in my size.
I would sometimes leave the Nike Factory Store in a bad mood.
When I want to buy a pair of shoes, I usually order them online from Finish Line or Footlocker. I sometimes find size 15 shoes at the Adidas Outlet store, but not often.
There’s also an Under Armour store in the Hagerstown Premium Outlets, but I’ve never bought a pair of shoes there. They seem focused more on selling shirts, shorts, jackets, and sweatpants. Their selection of shoes is limited.
I’m not going to wear Under Armour clothing unless I’m also wearing a pair of Under Armour shoes. You’d have to be an uncouth philistine to wear clothing from one company and the shoes of another. When I first meet someone and they’re wearing Nike shoes and a pair of Adidas shorts, I’ve learned everything I need to know about them. I know without a shadow of a doubt, they’re not someone I want in my life.
Needless to say, this rule only applies to athletic attire.
Anyone in Hagerstown, Maryland wanting to shop at a Nike Factory Store will need to go to the Clarksburg Premium Outlets off I-270 or at the Leesburg Corner Outlets in Virginia. Neither store is very far. If you’re going to Leesburg, I recommend taking 15 South. It makes for a very pleasant drive.