Gander Mountain, popular gun and hunting store, going out of business

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Charlotte Observer

Local
May 06, 2017 3:36 PM
Gander Mountain, popular gun and hunting store, going out of business

By LaVendrick Smith

[e-mail]

Gander Mountain, a popular gun and hunting store, announced it is going out of business and liquidating all of its stores nationwide. ... The company filed for bankruptcy in March, and announced at the time it would close 32 under-performing stores, including a location in south Charlotte.

{READ MORE: Popular gun and hunting retailer to close south Charlotte store}

Under the latest move, the company said on its website that all 126 stores will close, including locations in Gastonia and Monroe. It wasn’t immediately clear when that would happen.

The company also said on its website that it was acquired by Camping World Holdings Inc. last week. Gander Mountain said that means it will continue to be a part of the “specialty outdoor market,” though it did not detail how that would happen.

Camping World owner Marcus Lemonis has taken to Twitter to deny that all of Gander Mountain stores are closing. But he has not clarified why he is saying something that is different than what Gander Mountain is stating on its website.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article149059559.html

[meadowlark5]

1. A brand new one opened in sept of 2016

Where I live and I saw a going out of business sale sign on the store today.

[Efilroft Sul]

2. Hunt. Fish. Swim. Broke.

[louis-t]

3. The business model has got to be a tough one.

The ones by us are huge, in huge shopping mall. Overhead must be ridiculous. I wonder about LA Fitness also. They have to practically give away memberships.

[llmart]

4. Good!

Overpriced and we don't need any more places to sell guns to gun nuts.

[EL34x4]

11. The demise of Gander Mountain won't result in a single decline in firearm sales.

There's plenty of places to buy guns in America. Camping gear, not so much.

Doubt Gander Mountain made much of a profit on firearm sales. Probably selling them barely over cost. Accessories were where they robbed people. I bought my AR-15 from GM. Got a great deal on it. Salesman wanted to load me up with a bunch of overpriced slings, magazines, sights, cleaning kits and of course, ammunition, all overpriced. That's where they got your money.

It works only if someone is in a hurry.

As is said, it's all cheaper on-line. And this, in a nutshell, defines the Retail Apocalypse.

[melm00se]

15. from my experience

Gander Mountain is one of the most expensive shops for firearms. They are almost all at or near list price.

[ileus]

24. They're around 100-150 bucks high on most their firearms.

Everything else they're 10-50% high.



Last one I went into a few months ago was the Milwaukee and everything was typical way overpriced, I did find a couple of nice square bills 50% off.



An overpriced business model isn't going to cut it these days...Cabelas can't make it and neither can GM.

[riversedge]

27. Overpriced in Eau Claire WI also. I never went back after stopping in for some camping gear

[snooper2]

33. and now you have to buy worms from WalMart

[Lurks Often]

5. There was nothing at Gander Mountain that couldn't be bought cheaper online

so unless you absolutely had to either try something on for size or need to handle an item to see how it feels, why go? The same applies to Bass Pro, Cabela's and Dick's Sporting Goods and most other retail stores

[Throck]

6. Good fly tying supplies.

[ToxMarz]

7. I guess not having a Black Democratic man in the White House

is bad for their business model.

[jmowreader]

8. Some reports say the whole chain is going under, others say only parts of it is

This can only mean one thing: Donald Trump has gone into the camping-supplies business. No one else in America is that indecisive.

The Gander Mountain website asks its visitors to "check back in Fall 2017." They may be moving some of the merchandise that was available at Gander Mountain but not Camping World into the Camping World stores, and building Gander Mountain into an online-only brand.

[EL34x4]

12. In March, they reported just a handful of low-performing stores would close.

Earlier this week, they announced all of them would close. The one near my house posted "Going Out Of Business" sale signs just yesterday. At least the building won't be a vacant blight. Camping World has bought it and will take over merging Gander Mountain into their RV lifestyle business.

[bmbmd]

9. Isn't this

A Koch Brothers enterprise?

[lunasun]

17. Yes -maybe the Koch boycott worked

Another non-surprise: It turns out that the Koch Brothers own the sporting goods chain Gander Mountain, which is busily transforming many of its stores in 24 states into “Firearms Supercenters”. The NY Times quotes a Gander store manager whose store was just transformed to focus on guns: “We’ve eliminated our fishing and marine supplies and have very little camping except for grilling, smoking and outdoor preparation. We’re now a mega-gun store.”

Gander Mountain’s executive vice president of marketing is also quoted as saying about their new gun- focused direction: “We decided we need to get serious about one area of business,” “We are really serious,” said Uline. “That is a platform that will live going forward.” Most of the states where Gander Mt. does business now have liberalized self-defense legislation in place. Gander stores are also a prime source for what their website terms “tactical gear.”<2013

Remember the list
http://boycottkochbrothers.com

[dembotoz]

22. Thank you. Local gander closing and I need some fishing stuff

Will go elsewhere now

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Huh.

You'd almost think the Obama plan to confiscate guns actually happened.

[EarthFirst]

13. In my opinion, part of their downfall was a major emphasis on their house brand gear

with the only other major brands being North Face and Columbia; both of which have seen major quality and value decline in their products over recent years.

Little else was available outside of these choices, while other retailers such as Dick's/Field & Stream and Cabella's and Bass Pro offer a much wider selection outside of their own lines of branded options.

For me, I am more of an outdoor recreation enthusiast, so REI and EMS are generally more suited to my needs. However, as an avid fisher; they did have some options that suited my needs most of the time when they could not be met elsewhere.

It's a shame to see another retailer folding. With it the jobs and livelihoods of communities left in it's wake.

[underpants]

26. Yep. Cabella's catalog has been a mainstay in my in-laws house for years

and Bass Pro is actually ago to destination for some on trips. The massive stay alone stores had to be super expensive.

[truthisfreedom]

14. Gander Mountains that I've visited in recent years have been huge and empty.

Plenty of stock (perpetually out of .22 rounds) but no customers and giant footprints.

[benpollard]

16. That's where the Aurora theater shooter bought two of his guns

James Holmes, the Aurora theater shooter, bought his assault style rifle and a handgun from Gander Mountain. Who knows how many people have died from guns sold there. Good riddance.

[lunasun]

18. Thier aim was for "Firearms Supercenters"

See post 17

[llmart]

23. Good riddance is right!

How soon people forget. Thanks for reminding us that innocent people die because of stores like this who furnish them the weapons to kill people with.

[gilbert sullivan]

39. II buy my guns from locally owned shops.

Support the local economy.

[Kathy M]

19. I do not think it is known how many stores will stay open or will close .....

"The structure of our deal provides much flexibility and will not only allow us to refine the inventory selection and select only those stores which are profitable or we believe have a clear path to profitability, but will also allow us to immediately offer our comprehensive portfolio of services, protection plans, products and resources to the existing Gander Mountain and Overton customer base and in stores in which we elect to operate," Lemonis said.

Under the terms of the deal, Camping World will assume a minimum of 17 stores leases with options to keep the others open based on profitability. Lemonis told the Wall Street Journal that it's likely at least half of Gander's 160 stores won't survive. "

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/camping_world_buys_gander_moun.html

Starting in fall of 2015 .... " Cabela's gave no details of what changes it might consider, saying only that it would weigh "a wide range" of options. Reuters reported in November that rival Bass Pro Shop has considered a bid for Cabela's. "

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/12/02/cabelas-strategic-alternatives-outdoor-shop-elliott-management/76654306/

In 2017 article ..... " It's been a little over four months since outdoor-gear retailer Cabela's Inc. agreed to a $5.5 billion takeover by closely-held rival Bass Pro Shops at a mammoth premium, valuing it at $65.50 apiece. "

" The deal is undergoing additional review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The merger's chances may be dented by the fact that one competitor of the two chains, Gander Mountain & Co., is reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy. "

https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-02-15/cabela-s-bass-pro-deal-is-salvageable-and-pessimism-is-overdone

[Habibi]

20. If you go to their website, it says all stores closing.

http://www.gandermountain.com/?MobileOptOut=1

[Throck]

21. They stock a lot of clothing, footwear and camping gear also.

Mostly made in China stuff of poor quality and limited sizes. Better pricing for similar crap at WallyWorld.

BTW they check ID for ammo and do full background checks for all firearm sales. I'm not seeing a problem with that.

[ileus]

25. Just way overpriced on almost everything.

I stopped going to ours in Roanoke when Bass Pro in Bristol opened up. Plus we have a Sportsman Warehouse in Roanoke now.



I buy most my Guns at Whitetail outfitters just out of Christiansburg or at the Salem or Roanoke gun shows these days.

Of course if you're looking to buy CZ stuff that's another issue.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

28. I've never been in one. I've seen one just a bit west of Fredericksburg.

There are surely some closer to DC than that, but I haven't checked.

{checking}

http://www.gandermountain.com/store-locator/list/

Yeah, there's one in Woodbridge. Too far for me to go. Also, the map says it's in Potomac Mills, that huge shopping complex that you couldn't pay me to visit anymore. I was there once, I guess twenty-five years ago.

The main page won't let you check stock to see what they might have in the stores. That's not the least bit helpful.

There are REIs all over the DC area. There used to be an EMS in Alexandria, but he's gone. The independent camping equipment stores are gone. Appalachian Outfitters, in Vienna, has been gone for years. Casual Adventure, in Arlington, closed within the last month. Sports Authority is gone, and they mostly sold apparel.

Thanks for writing.

[friendly_iconoclast]

30. Eastern Mountain Sports *used* to be nicknamed "Expensive Mountaineering Stuff"

Their new nickname will probably be "Extinct Mountain Sports":


http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2017/04/bobs_store_in_enfield_ems_in_berkshire_m.html

Bankruptcy forcing closure of some Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports stores across Massachusetts

[Crabby Appleton]

29. More info about Marcus Lemonis involvement

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/05/07/gander-mountain-closing-not-so-fast-says-new-owner-marcus-lemonis/101402750/

Over the weekend, news spread of Gander Mountain closing all of its remaining stores, worrying employees and loyal customers that the longtime outdoor specialty brand would soon be no more.

But CNBC's "The Profit" Marcus Lemonis, who now owns Gander Mountain, said those reports are untrue and that at least 70 Gander Mountain locations will remain open, including at least two in the Indianapolis area.

"So Gander Mountain filed bankruptcy as you know, and about 10 days ago I bought all of the assets, all of the intellectual property, all of the trademarks, all of the leases and the Overton's business. Except for the fact that I did not buy, intentionally, the inventory that's in the stores," Lemonis told IndyStar Sunday morning. "A liquidator bought the inventory that's in the stores and they have the right to sell that inventory down and out as if it's going away. But the confusing message is whether a store is staying open or not. And ultimately we control the leases ... every single property. And my intention is to keep at least 70 open."

[demtenjeep]

31. Gander Mountain here is nice but over-priced

but has the best practice range.

I felt safe there and the facility was nice even though there were always gun humpers there acting all sovcit

[Bengus81]

32. Way to go TRUMP!!!!!

Yep,on your watch and ALL your fault. Right along with that 10% unemployment rate. Paybacks SUCK eh??

[Initech]

35. We're winning so much we're going to be sick of winning, OK?

I'm already sick of his winning.

[jack69]

34. Overpriced

When the store here moved, the prices went sky high on everything. Good bye, good riddance.

[Demsrule86]

36. We have one in Niles Ohio...just opened...and it is closing...probably equity firm...stealing the

assets and cash.

[S_B_Jackson]

37. Can't say that GM is all that popular for guns or hunting...

they are significantly over-priced although for those at the beginning stages of a firearm purchase, GM conveniently had too much $$$ invested in inventory. In my experience, you go to GM to window-shop and handle firearms that you then buy elsewhere or on-line.

Here locally, Academy kicks their ass.

[Yonnie3]

38. Popular? Not around here.

I often ride past a Gander Mountain in Central Virginia. Aside from during the opening month, I never saw more than a few cars in the parking lot and never saw Bubba's muddy camo pickup.

I was thinking of going in there to see if they had any good deals on outdoor stuff I might want, but a knowledgeable friend to me not to bother.

[Kennah]

40. Fear is to gun makers as fuel is to airlines

When fear is abundant, gun makers do well.

When fuel is abundant, airlines do well.

We are in a time when the gun makers will contract.