Sporting goods and outdoors equipment retailers have struggled in recent years.
You can blame the internet, the economy, and drops in consumer spending, but many of the companies that have shuttered stores or even closed for good did so due to a combination of the three.
For chains like Bob’s Stores, a New England-area staple for decades, the Covid pandemic was the final nail in its coffin. The chain simply never made up for the sales it lost during the lockdown period as its sales channels were more in-store than online, and most of its stores were closed for months during the lockdown period.
The list of outdoor-focused stores that have shut down locations or closed outright is a long one, and a major name has been added to the list.
Outdoor and sporting goods retailers closing stores
- Orvis: Confirmed plans to shut down 31 full-price stores and five outlet locations by early 2026, reducing its footprint from over 70 to 33 stores.
- Moosejaw: After being acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2023, all remaining Moosejaw stores and the website were closed by August 2024.
- Bob’s Stores: A 70-year-old sporting goods chain that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing permanently.
- Next Adventure: A Portland-based outdoor retailer announced plans to shut down all locations by late 2025, citing economic challenges and owner retirement.
- Liberated Brands (Volcom, Billabong, Quiksilver): Over 100 stores nationwide are closing after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Foot Locker & Champs Sports: Following a merger with Dick’s Sporting Goods, approximately 400 stores are expected to close by 2026, focusing on underperforming mall-based locations.
- JAX Ames Outdoor Gear: A family-owned retailer in Iowa that is liquidating its assets and closing by the end of summer 2025.
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REI is closing stores
REI has been a market leader in the outdoor space. The company built its business around two simple words: “Opt outside.” It shared what that means on its website and why “those two words express us best.”
When given a choice, life is better when you choose to go outside. It doesn’t have to be up a mountain and it doesn’t have to be for weeks. But getting outside in all forms connects us to the best part of life.
The company has a long history.
“We’ve been on this mission since the co-op came together way back in 1938 with 23 friends, a shared love of the outdoors, and a first store that was nothing more than a shelf in a gas station. Each member contributed what they could. Some sewed products at home to make them affordable. Others organized stewardship events to protect the environment,” it added.
REI has plans to close a number of stores, including flagship locations in New York and Boston.
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Upcoming REI store closures
- SoHo, New York City: REI will close its only New York City location in the SoHo neighborhood. The 35,000-square-foot flagship store in the historic Puck Building will shut its doors in late 2026.
- Boston, Massachusetts: The Boston store, located in the Landmark Center near Fenway Park, will also close in late 2026. This location is one of REI’s 11 unionized stores, and the company is working with union representatives to address the closure’s impact on employees.
- Paramus, New Jersey: The Paramus store is scheduled to close in the first quarter of 2026.
“We are deeply grateful to our teams, our members and customers, and the stores’ communities for their support over the years,” REI shared in a statement. “As markets and customer needs evolve, we must adapt to position the co-op for long-term success. We will continue serving members and customers at these locations until closing, and at our other stores across the New York and Boston regions.”
Recent REI store closures
- Santa Monica, California: REI closed its downtown Santa Monica store on February 29, 2024. The decision was influenced by increased operating costs and changing customer needs in the area. Source:Bicycle Retailer and Industry News
- Cambridge, Massachusetts: The small-format neighborhood store in Cambridge closed in April 2025 after less than four years of operation due to underperformance. Source:BostonGlobe.com
The overall outdoor market has slowed
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) released key insights from its 2024 Outdoor Retail Sales Trends Report in March. Produced in partnership withCircana, the report details U.S. retail sales trends in chain, e-commerce, and specialty channels across major outdoor product categories including apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment.
- The market was down 3% to $27.5 billion in total outdoor retail sales.
- All three retail channels experienced declines, with at least half of Independent Outdoor Specialty Retailers suffering a double-digit decline in dollars sold.
- Three of the four major product categories contracted (Apparel, Footwear, Equipment), while the Accessories category grew.
- New, more casual participants are changing the product mix in the outdoor market.
“As people really look to tighten their budget, when you talk about essential things, is outdoor gear really one of them when you’re comparing it to rent, groceries or medical bills?” Colorado Sun reporter David Krause told KUNC. “But there’s a lot of people who go out and they really want to buy the gear because, as you know, outdoor gear can really last a while.”
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