Longtime Modesto company closing shop. It’s not the only McHenry Village business leaving
Royal Robbins, a fixture in Modesto’s McHenry Village for decades, is closing for good at the end of June.
What started in 1968 as a climbing equipment distributor, operating in the basement of Liz Robbins’ father’s home, is now an internationally sold outdoor and travel clothing brand.
Royal Robbins, a world-renowned mountain climber, met Liz Burkner in Yosemite’s Camp 4 in the early 1960s. The couple married in 1963.
Their first store, Mountain Paraphernalia (1969), was at 10th and Needham streets in Modesto. The location is now Camp 4 Wine Cafe, owned and operated by their son, Damon.
Liz Robbins designed her first-ever piece of clothing in 1975 and one of the company’s best selling items — the Billy Goat Short.
The success of the shorts switched the Robbinses’ focus from equipment to clothing. A few name changes later, Royal Robbins Inc. was born in 1982.
The Robbinses appointed Modesto entrepreneur Dan Costa as CEO of the company in 1999. He moved the store to McHenry Village the next year.
In 2001, the couple sold the company to Costa outright. Costa sold to Phoenix Footwear two years later. That owner sold it in 2007 to Kellwood Co., and the business was later one of many holdings of Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.
The Royal Robbins Modesto distribution center was sold in 2018 to Sweden-based Fenix Outdoor International.
Now, the last piece of Royal Robbins in the city where the business planted its roots will be no longer as of June 30.
The McHenry Village store is offering up to 70% off of marked prices, and all sales are final. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
The Royal Robbins official site does not indicate it will be shuttering, and the brand is still sold in stores including REI and Sierra Nevada Adventure Co.
Other McHenry Village business closures
The owners of Village Butcher announced Friday, March 22, that they are also closing their brick-and-mortar business in McHenry Village.
Matt and Stacy Soderstrom cited “ever-increasing food and labor costs, new regulations to comply with and a challenging economy” in a two-week closure notice via Instagram.
“Five years ago we did one of the hardest things in our lives and opened a business,” the post read. “We had a plan. Then a global crisis happened, followed by personal loss. While we were able to weather those storms with the help of our community and staff, the fight left us exhausted and fighting to stay on course.”
The shop will close April 6, but the Soderstroms and their services are not going away for good.
“While there is some sadness in this decision, there is no regret,” they wrote. “This isn’t goodbye. We’ll see everyone soon.”
Their new business model will focus on catering, pop-ups and other events.
Follow @thevillagebutcher209 on Instagram for updates.
This story was originally published March 29, 2024 at 1:02 PM.
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