After 10 years helping build Tactics' retail business, Adam Gerken has officially left the company, according to reports.
His final chapter ended this fall in Bend, Oregon, where he opened the shop in 2016 and handed over the keys following its closure.
Gerken also helped open Tactics' Portland store in 2019 and Seattle location in 2024. He left on October 15 in what he described as a mutually agreed decision. With Bend closed, Tactics now has one physical location remaining in Portland, alongside its online store.
Before joining Tactics, Gerken was a partner at Seattle snowboard shop Snowboard Connection. He joined Tactics because of its combination of online sales and physical stores, which he believed could serve local skateboarding and snowboarding communities while bringing more customers to its website.
Tactics began as an online retailer in the late 1990s before adopting its current name in 2001. Its website became an important sales channel for skate and snowboard brands, while its shops gave riders a place to connect and find gear.
The company was acquired by Japan-based TSI Holdings in April 2020, just as the pandemic began. Sales took off, leading to new hires, store investments and events. However, Gerken said spending remained high even after the COVID boom slowed.
Lakai owner Marc Roca acquired Tactics in 2025, with plans to improve the business and grow its retail presence. The focus later shifted toward profitability as the company dealt with financial difficulties. Gerken said decisions under the new ownership frequently changed, while longtime employees were laid off or left.
Seattle was among the first locations to close. Gerken said the 5,000-square-foot Ballard shop needed more time to become profitable, especially after a difficult winter affected sales.
READ MORE: Tactics Assistant GM Claims Lakai CEO Marc Roca Ran Tactics Into Debt Before Bend Store Closure
Bend had a different story. According to Gerken, it was Tactics' top store for sales per square foot and customer traffic, attracting roughly four times as many visitors as Eugene. Roca initially wanted to close the location, but Gerken argued for keeping it open in a smaller space. The reduced floor area meant dropping its snowboard selection, which Gerken believed would hurt sales.
After spending two months preparing the smaller shop, Tactics eventually had to leave the property following unpaid rent.
The closing sale brought out a huge crowd. With everything discounted by 50%, customers lined up through the shop for six hours, and 158 skateboards were sold that day. Gerken said the response showed how much the store meant to the local skateboarding and snowboarding communities.
Gerken spent his final weeks helping the Portland store manager with the transition before leaving on October 15. Despite his disagreements with Roca's decisions, he hopes Tactics can recover and continue operating its website and remaining shop. He also believes the company could attract another buyer.
As for opening his own shop, Gerken isn't planning to start one in Bend. He estimates that building a properly stocked snowboard shop could require between $500,000 and $750,000, making it difficult to run without strong online sales supporting the business.
After a decade with Tactics, Gerken isn't rushing into his next job. He hopes his experience can help other independent skate shops and snowboard retailers figure out how to stay in business and keep their local communities supplied with gear.