A firm that traces its roots to a rock climber in Yosemite frustrated with how the trousers he was wearing were unsuited for climbing is consolidating regional operations in Manteca.
5.11 Tactical is the tenant for a 404,657-square-foot building being pursued by CenterPoint in its business park along Airport Way south of Roth Road in northwest Manteca just north of Crothall Laundry. The project is before the Manteca Planning Commission at tonight’s 7 o’clock meeting at the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St. The plans being reviewed also calls for a possible future expansion of 134,500 square feet.
The firm that now makes uniforms, tactical clothing tactical gear, knives and other equipment favored by the military  as well as police SWAT teams  plus other public safety personnel and a growing number of civilian shooters and private military contractors has operations split between Modesto and Lathrop The 217 existing employees will be consolidated into one location. The Manteca facility is a third larger than the space the Lathrop and Modesto locations currently have. The new complex is being targeted for occupancy in the fall of 2017.
The firm had $300 million in sales in 2015. It currently sells products in 15 different countries.
5.11 Tactical can trace its roots to mountain climber Royal Robbins. Frustrated by his experience with his trousers while climbing in Yosemite he designed pants that were more durable and had better functionality to add to the boot and clothing company offerings he had in 1968. The trousers had a trademarked tactical strap and slashed pocket design.
The “5.11” is based on the highest rock climbing difficulty level listed in the Yosemite Decimal System at Yosemite National Park that Robbins helped develop in the 1950s. In 1999 he sold 51 percent of his stake in the firm to Dan Costa who bought the rest of the company in 2002 after noticing how popular the pants were at the FBI Academy.
5.11 Tactical is the latest is a series of firms to combine and relocate regional operations in Manteca. While 5.11 Tactical could locate anywhere in the United States, it wanted a location that allowed it to keep its workers.
Other firms such as Frito-Lay and J&M Equipment relocated to Manteca after shuttering operations both in Modesto and Stockton.
While other Northern San Joaquin Valley cities capitalize almost exclusively on firms trying to serve both the Bay Area and Sacramento markets, Manteca from time-to-time has taken advantage of its unique situation being at the center of a triangle with 900,00 consumers in a 30-minute drive between Modesto, Stockton, and Tracy as well as points in between.

Yard sign thieves
try to intimidate
Trump supporters
Two neighbors in a neighborhood north of Shasta School are not two happy that people are coming into their yards at night and stealing Donald Trump yard signs.
Karen and her neighbor have each had two signs stolen so far. They are now taking their Trump signs in at night. Their other signs — she has three supporting various candidates and the neighbor has two — stay out 24/7 and haven’t been touched.
Not only is it a none-too-subtle form of intimidation but Karen also notes people are trespassing and essentially stealing.
She made it clear she had no malice toward anyone that is voting for Hillary Clinton.
“That’s their choice, that’s their right,” she said.
That said she thinks that Trump supporters for merely being Trump supporters shouldn’t be harassed.
Free speech with some people is apparently a one-way street.

Manteca council
honors memory
of Richard Hanson
Last week’s Manteca City Council meeting was adjourned by Mayor Steve DeBrum in memory of Richard Hanson.
Hanson — who served as a Marine — passed away Oct. 8.
He was also a regular at City Council meetings making his point in terse, to the point, and often humorous jabs.
DeBrum said Hanson’s presence would be sorely missed.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com