Nordstrom, the luxury department store, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its first store in Portland, Oregon, this year. But it may not be around to see a 76th anniversary.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson says he recently had a talk with Nordstrom’s CEO, who informed him he wasn’t sure if his store could stay open in downtown Portland. Why? Portland has never recovered from the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020 and the ongoing explosion of the homeless population.

If Nordstrom left, it would be following the lead of REI, the recreational gear company that exited last year due to robberies and theft. During the same period, Walmart and Macy’s also closed all their stores.

Ironically, it wasn’t long ago that Portlandlandia was a shopping Mecca in the Pacific Northwest in part because, unlike Seattle, it had a zero sales tax.

But Portland’s demise is a reminder that lawlessness is one of the worst taxes of all.