Citing the need to “protect and preserve scarce tribal resources,” Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chair Ralph Sampson, Jr. announced last week that Yakamart at Pahto Crossing has been closed indefinitely.
Sampson made the announcement during a press conference Nov. 10, at tribal headquarters.
In a press release provided at the conference, Sampson expressed dismay at closing the establishment.
“This was a difficult decision for tribal leadership because Yakamart was one of the few tribal enterprises established to provide employment and revenue for the benefit of the Yakama Nation.”
The release described the establishment as “struggling financially with declining revenues and financial indebtedness.” 
Julio Carranza, lead attorney for the tribal office of legal counsel, said a full evaluation of the facility would be conducted to determine if reopening it would be a viable alternative in the future.
The store employed fewer than 20 people, according to tribal officials, and functioned primarily as a fuel stop and convenience store.
Sampson said the facility had always been supported by the tribal casino. 
It had originally been planned as a store selling clothing and other sundries as well as fuel, but those plans never came to fruition.
It wasn’t clear what plans were for the Yakamart building, but officials said there were two tenants renting space there and they would stay for the time being.
The store’s closure became effective Nov. 9.
The Yakama Nation also shut down its Continental Basketball Association team, the Yakima Sun Kings, in April of 2008, because the team was losing money.
The tribe closed down the team after two years of a three-year commitment.