Gander Mountain Files For Bankruptcy, 32 Locations To Close Including Two in Wisconsin

By: Stephanie Staudinger

Posted: Mar 10, 2017 5:34 PM CDT | Updated: Mar 10, 2017 5:35 PM CDT

(WCCO) – Outdoor recreational store Gander Mountain has announced it is filing for bankruptcy.

In a press release, the company said a decrease in in-store sales led them to review their business plan. As a result, in order to keep up with online shopping, it was determined the company needed to restructure to have a more narrow focus and lower operating cost.

To do so more smoothly, Gander Mountain decided to file for bankruptcy.

During the process, business hours at each location will remain the same. Employee pay, benefits and retirement plans will also remain in place.

However, 32 underperforming stores will begin to close in the next several weeks. Three Minnesota stores — Rogers, Mankato and Woodbury — will close. The other closing stores are listed below.

Alabama (4) – Gadsden, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
Georgia (3) – Augusta, McDonough, Snellville
Illinois (3) – Champaign, Algonquin, Springfield
Indiana (2) – Merrillville, Greenfield
New York (1) – New Hartford
North Carolina (2) – Raleigh, South Charlotte
Tennessee (1) – Chattanooga
Texas (10) – Houston, Killeen, Laredo, Lubbock, Round Rock, San Antonio, Sugar Land, Texarkana, Waco, West Houston
West Virginia (1) – Charleston
Wisconsin (2) – Eau Claire, Germantown

Gander Mountain released a letter to their customers saying the following:

Dear Gander Mountain Customer:
As you may have already heard in media reports, Gander Mountain has voluntarily filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
This filing is an important step in our restructuring, but our highest priority is to make it a non-event for you. As such, I want to assure you that your Gander Mountain store is open, stocked, and staffed to meet your needs. Our website - gandermountain.com - is available to you 24 hours a day from the comfort of your home, truck or cabin.
Yesterday, today and tomorrow, we are dedicated to servicing the hunting, camping, fishing, shooting sports, and outdoor products markets. As 'America's Firearms Supercenter,' we are a market leader in the shooting sports category with an extensive offering of firearms, ammunition, and accessories. We expect to be your partner for shooting and outdoor sports for years to come.
As we go through this process, the 7,000 employees of Gander Mountain will do everything in their power to make it invisible and inconsequential to you. As always, our focus will remain on giving you the same great products and customer service that you dserve.