Driving past the HTO in Fairfax City big signs in the window gave me the impression that perhaps the end is near for HTO and this is more than their annual big sale. Stopped going in the place ages ago due to the lousy, rude staff. Was way better when they were located at the now Fast Eddie's of Fairfax.

I have fading memory these days but wasn't HTO intially called Hudson Bay Outfitters but changed the name cause of the big old Canadian company of same name>

HTO = Hudson Trail Outfitters

I thought they went out of business like 20 years ago. Why go anywhere besides REI?

I noticed this too. 80 percent off clearance. I almost went in but was busy and also recalled how crappy their return policy was compared to REI. Staff was pretty oblivious as well. The one in Pentgon city was much much better.

With REI and Performance Bikes why bother with hto? The one big purchase I ever made from them was due to the fact they carried Specialized

Daniel Boone Wrote:
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>> I have fading memory these days but wasn't HTO
> intially called Hudson Bay Outfitters but changed
> the name cause of the big old Canadian company of
> same name>


Yes it started out as Hudson Bay Outfitters (HBO) and got sued by HBO (Home Box Office) so they changed to HTO

Their "sale" is a scam. They clearly jacked up prices so that they can cut them and call it a sale. Jackets that used to go for $100 are now half off their jacked up $500 price tag. Some bargain!

Those dirty bastards put that sign up every year. I went in last may before a 6 week trip excited for deals and everything was MORE expensive than usual

HTO is way overpriced. Much better deals at REI and/or on net at Sierra Trading Post (with their ever-present 35% off coupons).

Not sure about completely overpriced - all the retail stores are pretty much at MSRP. The one advantage of HTO was that they didn't have a massive *exlcusions apply" asterisk on every one of their sales. I used a 25% off coupon on a brand new arcteryx jacket there - that would never fly anywhere else. They had to have taken a loss or close to it on that jaceket.

Not by HBO (tv). Hudson's Bay Company was one of the first commercial enterprises in Canada, and they are still a big department store chain. THEY are the ones who sued about the misuse of their name.
http://www3.hbc.com/hbc/about-us/

Their website doesn't say anything about going out of business. In fact you're right I remember years ago it said going out of business and its still there. Isn't that false advertising?

I've been there a couple times to try things on. Their selection, at least in jackets, is much better than the local Fairfax Corner REI which is smalled compared to that in Tysons. They also offer price matching which is something that REI does not do. I certainly wouldn't count them out. Something to note, they do not carry Smalls - I don't know if that's just their Fairfax location or all.

You can still find Hudson Bay Outfitters. They're in that shopping center with Kemp Mill Records, People's Drug, and Mortons. And make sure you stop by Erol's to pick up a video for tonight.

Britches Great Outdoors Wrote:
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> You can still find Hudson Bay Outfitters. They're
> in that shopping center with Kemp Mill Records,
> People's Drug, and Mortons. And make sure you stop
> by Erol's to pick up a video for tonight.


The better one is between Dart Drug and Trak Auto.

Robert Haft Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Britches Great Outdoors Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You can still find Hudson Bay Outfitters.
> They're
> > in that shopping center with Kemp Mill Records,
> > People's Drug, and Mortons. And make sure you
> stop
> > by Erol's to pick up a video for tonight.
>
>
> The better one is between Dart Drug and Trak Auto.


The one near Crown Books?

Noooo, you are way off. It is the one by the A&P, right near the new Rustler steak house that just opened up across the street from Clifton Elementary School.

Been there. Had to stop by Revco as I left.

Mr. Ray Wrote:
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> Been there. Had to stop by Revco as I left.
Don't you mean Memco? It's next to Pants Corral and Hechinger.

Is that near Best or Pantry Pride?

Can I still get my Bitches Gay Outdoors warthog collar shirt there? I need it in coral.

Hudson Trail Outfitters? No, there's a theatre there! I know because I saw a movie there in 1980!

Is it next to Chess King?

Yes

Not just HTO. The entire block is going to be demolished so we can build
more overpriced condo's and have more traffic jams.

CBR Wrote:
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> Not just HTO. The entire block is going to be
> demolished so we can build
> more overpriced condo's and have more traffic
> jams.




Thank God! That traffic circle is so underused. It'll be great to have a few more cars in the mix...

The CEO sent out an email today confirming the end of HTO.

Yes Daniel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Daniel Boone Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >> I have fading memory these days but wasn't HTO
> > intially called Hudson Bay Outfitters but
> changed
> > the name cause of the big old Canadian company
> of
> > same name>
>
>
> Yes it started out as Hudson Bay Outfitters (HBO)
> and got sued by HBO (Home Box Office) so they
> changed to HTO


Those bastards

Really? Going out of business? I'm sorry to hear this. I should know, is it just this store? Are there more than one HTOs?

HTO was the type of store that you went in to look around and play with gear, only to leave and buy it somewhere else for cheaper.

https://www.arlnow.com/2015/08/31/hudson-trail-outfitters-to-close-on-pentagon-row/

Their prices sucked. Always full retail. No one pays full retail anymore. No wonder they're going down.

>HTO was the type of store that you went in to look around and play with gear, only to leave and buy it somewhere else for cheaper.

So True..LOL. Such Yuppie Loyalty that's for sure. And that's why Sports Authority slumped, and Herman's Atlas went out years back, both good stores that sold.. GAWD Guns!

And when the Loyal Yuppie Democrats demanded they get rid of the guns or they would take their business elsewhere the stores caved.. And the Loyal Yuppies went anywhere else anything was a penny cheaper anyway.. And the stores went out of business and the rest are hanging onto the ledge by their fingernails.

Not Green Top Down by Richmond. business is thriving there. And they sell guns and fishing equipment. Plenty of it and have thousands of truly LOYAL customers.

Sports Authority is still in business. They have over 450 stores and are one of the largest sports retailers in the country. They have 6 stores in Northern Virginia.

Went into the HTO at Fairfax Circle a couple months ago and it had not changed since the last time I was in there like 10 years ago. Went looking for a new backpack since I have a laptop and found their selection underwhelming. Galyans, or what ever it was before it became a Dick's, had the best selection in the area. But your right, it is easier and cheaper to buy it online.

Now where can I go to buy an $80 pair of Arcteryx shorts or a $500 windbreaker?

Sports Authority is garbage for anything particular, to any particular sport. In a addition to cycling, I am also a bowler. Sports Authority's bowling equipment is garbage. So is their bikes and biking equipment. I will go to REI from now on.

Went to the HTO going-out-of-business sale. Typical BS - 20% off of stuff that's been marked up 120%. A pair of $95 shorts is just $75 now. Makes me glad they're going under with crap like that.

Sal -

Did you really just call the selection of backpacks to hold your laptop at the outdoor store underwhelming?

Ugh

It's still in business,between Penguin feather and Mr. Donut.

And for what it's worth, I'll definitely miss HTO. Sure, when you're just looking for some cool "outside" clothes for your 3 mile "hike", or for your outdoor adventure to a cookout in Arlington with your other bearded, wayfarer wearing buddies, you're not gonna find much of a deal. But if you actually spend some time outside, they've had some awesome deals on Kayaks, Paddleboards, bikes etc.

I would never been able to get the prices at REI that i got at HTO. REI's in this area are fairly useless stores.

I wanted to like HTO, but they usually managed to piss me off.

You can knock the person looking for cool outdoor looking clothing or items that are only suitable for lighter duty outdoor activities, but the demand for such items is much larger than for items for those who "actually spend some time outside". Also when you knock those in the former catagory, that attitude tends to carry over to those who are looking to upgrade to something better, but don't need the kind of equipment needed to hike the Appalachian trial, scale Mount Everest or bike whatever the equivalent of the Tour de France for mountain bikes. Whether you are talking service, selection, price or store policies, for many items you could do better elsewhere, even before the internet became a factor.

They will drive 100 miles to try to save a dollar and bitch bitch bitch any specialty store to death. Quit wringing your hands, be glad HBO is around.

Why drive anywhere to pay 80% more than you would by shopping online? HTO was behind the times.

Que? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And for what it's worth, I'll definitely miss HTO.
> Sure, when you're just looking for some cool
> "outside" clothes for your 3 mile "hike", or for
> your outdoor adventure to a cookout in Arlington
> with your other bearded, wayfarer wearing buddies,
> you're not gonna find much of a deal. But if you
> actually spend some time outside, they've had some
> awesome deals on Kayaks, Paddleboards, bikes etc.
>
>
> I would never been able to get the prices at REI
> that i got at HTO. REI's in this area are fairly
> useless stores.

You're talking outta your ass. They carried Bic paddleboards suitable only for the same people you're slamming. Same with the entry level roto-molded kayaks. Bike's were their strong point. But, there were no 'awesome deals'. Ever.

Count me in the wanted to like them, but they just sucked.

Better check your ass too son...

They actually carried Tahoe SUPs for a while and ultimately discounted to HALF PRICE because people would apparently rather buy the BIC shit. How's your BIC? When was the last time ANYTHING at REI was cut by 50%? Oh, and REI sells BIC and Surftech. Awesome.

HTO's Rocky Mountain And Scott MTB's, and FUji road bikes were routinely 20-30% less than they could be found ANYWHERE else. I mean, that's not Novara or anything, but...;)

And I admittedly don't know shit about kayaks other than if the float and glide, I'm ok with it. The yaks they had at HTO were priced much lower than kayaks of similar look at other stores.

Seriously, how's getting fucked by REI under the guise of a yearly dividend feel?


EI > HTO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Que? Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And for what it's worth, I'll definitely miss
> HTO.
> > Sure, when you're just looking for some cool
> > "outside" clothes for your 3 mile "hike", or
> for
> > your outdoor adventure to a cookout in
> Arlington
> > with your other bearded, wayfarer wearing
> buddies,
> > you're not gonna find much of a deal. But if
> you
> > actually spend some time outside, they've had
> some
> > awesome deals on Kayaks, Paddleboards, bikes
> etc.
> >
> >
> > I would never been able to get the prices at
> REI
> > that i got at HTO. REI's in this area are
> fairly
> > useless stores.
>
> You're talking outta your ass. They carried Bic
> paddleboards suitable only for the same people
> you're slamming. Same with the entry level
> roto-molded kayaks. Bike's were their strong
> point. But, there were no 'awesome deals'. Ever.
>
> Count me in the wanted to like them, but they just
> sucked.

HTO and REI both have garbage bikes. If you're a novice, you'd be best going to Performance Bikes. If you're serious, you'd go to a real bike store. In no case would HTO or REI be the best choice.

Bull Durham Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HTO and REI both have garbage bikes. If you're a
> novice, you'd be best going to Performance Bikes.
> If you're serious, you'd go to a real bike store.
> In no case would HTO or REI be the best choice.

So, if someone is neither a novice or serious, but rather in between, HTO was a reasonable option. Over the many years, HTO sold Specialized, Gary Fisher, and Scott bikes for example. 'Real bike'stores were not littered all over the area like they are now.

The garbage bikes you speak of can be found at wally world.

HTO was around when there was not many other options, and before the interwebs.

No loss at all. Had an ugly encounter with one of the Fairfax co store salesmen last day open, the one with the long scraggly bird nest beard. He had just finished yelling at another customer for walking in the Bike sale area. I told the salesman to chill...and he lashed out at me. Pathetic, low brow way to finish out the business. I felt good about walking out without making a purchase.

HTO's final sale prices were still higher than everyday prices at STP (with their endless coupons).

Used to work at the p city one.
Most my "coworkers" were elitist assholes. From "im more outdoorsy than you" to the dude in AA on his high horse.

Best thing about them was/is the arcteryx selection.