Zumiez
United States
Zumiez is a US specialty retailer of skate, snow and surf-inspired apparel, founded in 1978 and based in Lynnwood, Washington. It has been listed on Nasdaq since 2005 and acquired the European retailer Blue Tomato in 2012.
| Founded | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Thomas Campion and Gary Haakenson |
| Headquarters | Lynnwood, Washington |
| Listing | Nasdaq (ZUMZ), since 2005 |
| Stores | 739 worldwide per 2021 infobox |
| Segment | Mass market and fast fashion |
| Website | zumiez.com |
What is Zumiez?
Zumiez is a mall-based specialty retailer of action sports apparel, footwear and accessories. Wikipedia reports that it was founded in 1978 by Thomas Campion and Gary Haakenson, who opened it as Above the Belt at Northgate Mall, and that it is headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington, after moving from Everett in 2012.
History
In the early 1980s the company expanded to Everett Mall, Tacoma Mall, Alderwood Mall and Bellevue Square, then opened outside the Puget Sound area and renamed itself Zumiez. It began a charitable foundation in 2002, went public on Nasdaq in 2005 under the symbol ZUMZ, acquired Fast Forward in 2006, Blue Tomato in 2012 and Fast Times in 2015. In 2014 two employees were killed at its store in Columbia, Maryland.
Business model and distribution
Zumiez operates mainly through stores in shopping malls. On 3 February 2018 it had 726 stores: 608 in the United States, 52 in Canada, 54 in Europe and 12 in Australia. A 2021 infobox listed 739 stores worldwide, of which 604 were in the United States. Wikipedia lists Richard Brooks as president and chief executive and Thomas Campion as chairman, but these roles were not verified for 2026.
Ownership
Zumiez is a publicly traded company. The source reviewed does not name a controlling shareholder or parent group.
Why it matters
Zumiez is one of the largest surviving specialty chains focused on skate and snow culture, and its ownership of Blue Tomato gives it a European e-commerce and retail presence. It competes with PacSun and Hot Topic.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Zumiez?
Zumiez is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol ZUMZ and was founded by Thomas Campion and Gary Haakenson. No controlling owner is named in the source reviewed.
Where is Zumiez from?
Zumiez is American. It started in 1978 in the Seattle area and is headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington.