MISSOULA — Seeking access to public lands, an adventure footwear company based in San Francisco will relocate its national headquarters to Missoula, including its flagship store and a workshop for repairs.
Missoula Economic Partnership announced the move in a press release Wednesday, saying Bedrock Sandals will make the move early next year. The number of jobs wasn’t immediately disclosed.
“Bedrock is what we consider a best-fit business, one that builds long-term success around great people, a great place and a great product,” said Grant Kier, president and CEO of MEP. “We know Bedrock is great for Missoula and that Missoula is great for Bedrock, offering all the ingredients to ensure their growth and success, and we’re delighted to welcome them to our community.”
According to Wednesday’s announcement, the company’s Missoula headquarters will host office space for its growing team, a flagship store and a workshop for shoe repair.
Bedrock was founded by Nick Pence and Dan Opalacz and is now located in the San Francisco Bay area, where it operates from a solar-powered warehouse.
Pence said the company wanted close access to the outdoors and a more sustainable atmosphere from which to grow its business. Missoula fit the company’s “ethos and lifestyle.”
“We wanted a place with better backyard access to rivers and mountains, a more affordable cost of living, and more seasons for testing and developing new footwear,” he said. “Missoula’s down-to-earth feel, outdoor recreation, and sense of community hit all the marks.”
According to Wednesday’s announcement, Bedrock will move its team to Missoula in early 2020. It already has begun forming partnerships and investing in the community.
Big Sky Fulfillment, a Missoula distribution company located near the airport, will handle inventory and distribution for Bedrock. Through its environmental stewardship efforts, Bedrock also has started contributing to Missoula-based organizations, including the Clark Fork Coalition and Adventure Cycling.
Rachel VandeVoort, director of the Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation, described the company as a good fit for Missoula.
“Outdoor recreation has quickly grown to be a powerhouse in Montana, representing over 5% of our economy and $70 billion in annual consumer spending, while creating over 71,000 jobs,” she said.
“The Office of Outdoor Recreation is here to help companies like Bedrock leverage our unique ecosystem of skilled workers, public lands, and access to resources that sustain and inspire our best ideas.”
