Copyright The Street
When a business has operated in the community for a long time, it’s very upsetting when it closes down. Unfortunately, this is the reality many outdoor enthusiasts will face. Recent news from a popular outdoor brand and major Cabela’s rival is sure to disappoint loyal shoppers, as a 169-year-old outdoor store has revealed it is closing 36 of its locations. This is almost half of its stores. The good news is that the store is not declaring bankruptcy, and it is not shutting down for good. Instead, it will shutter many locations because of the economic impact of tariffs on its business. Outdoor store closes 36 locations permanently The business that is shutting down locations is The Orvis Company. Orvis is one of the oldest retailers in the nation, dating its operations back to 1856. The store was founded by its namesake, Charles F. Orvis, and started as a fly-fishing equipment store. Today, it sells a variety of products, including: Gifts Sportswear Pet products Home furnishings Travel items It operates more than 70 different retail locations throughout the United States, but 36 of them will be closing soon, which means a substantial portion of its brick-and-mortar stores will disappear. Which Orvis stores are closing, and when? Orvis has not shared exactly which locations are closing. However, in an official statement from Orvis President Simon Perkins, published by Shop-Eat Surf-Outdoor, he explained the types of shops that are shutting down. They include: 31 regular retail locations 5 outlets Perkins acknowledged the impact that this will have, stating: “We know this impacts people who are significant members of the Orvis family. We are deeply grateful to our associates who have done an exceptional job embodying the Orvis brand and core values for our local communities. And we highly value and appreciate our loyal customers, whom we’ve grown to know through the stores we will be closing.” The good news is that Orvis will offer “Last Release” sales and deals in the impacted areas, allowing customers to stock up on their favorite products at discounted prices. Why is Orvis closing stores? Fortunately, the outdoor store is not going bankrupt, but it did have to adjust its business model amid the current economic environment. “Like many in retail, Orvis’ business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of an unprecedented tariff landscape,” Perkins said of the closures. “To ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint,” he explained. Perkins added that the company will narrow its focus, “investing in the areas where Orvis makes its greatest impact — world-class gear and apparel, unforgettable experiences, and a deep commitment to conservation.” Orvis customers disappointed by store closures While the closure is understandable and Orvis is far from the only brand struggling in the current economy, news of the closures has left many loyal customers upset. The r/flyfishing subreddit includes a thread on the closures, with many posters discussing what they will miss. More Restaurants Cracker Barrel closing 14 company-owned restaurants amid backlash Beloved sandwich chain closes restaurants, bakeries Restaurant chain closed 50% of locations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy One poster, Nalonwod, commented, “Appreciate all the free lessons they host for newcomers like me.” Another, eScoob, stated, “That’s sad. They still have the best fly rod repair warranty.” However, not everyone was dismayed to hear the news, with one Redditor excited that Orvis was cutting out some of the non-fishing products and getting back to its core focus: “They’re downsizing the general apparel side of the company to focus on fly fishing and wing hunting, going back to their company roots.”
