Cover photo courtesy Shallan Knowles
Longtime Lilac City snowboard, ski, skate, wake, and bike shop, Shred Sports, recently announced an unexpected name change after a prolonged legal battle. Behind the scenes for some time, a similarly-named corporate outdoor sports retailer with 30+ stores in the eastern U.S. has been challenging the Spokane shop, even though Spokane’s Shred had the trademark for the name. Opting to avoid further legal and financial uncertainty, the Spokane shop’s new owners Ben and Kacey Deakins chose to pivot in a positive direction with a unique and memorable new name. They are excited to continue to offer the same large selection of snow- and sun-oriented outdoor sports gear under a new shop name—SOLNIX.
The new name, explains Ben, is a combination of the Latin words sol and nix, which translate to sun and snow. “We love the Spokane community, and we know they will support us regardless of the name. We want to provide the best gear, best service, and best deals to anyone who might venture into the sports we love, beginning or expert.”
The Deakins family sees the new name as an opportunity to cater to even more outdoor activities. With small, independent outdoor gear shops folding elsewhere in Spokane, options for a locally-owned outdoor retailer experience are fewer and farther between, says Ben. “We hope Spokane will rally around us to save a shop that’s been serving the outdoor community for over 27 years!”
Pay SOLNIX a visit for your next outdoor adventure needs and mark your calendar for the shop’s huge yard sale on Memorial Day weekend at 4505 N. Division Street in Spokane. Follow their social pages or find more info online at Solnix.com.
