Gander Mountain closing (Snellville, McDonough, Grovetown: sales, credit, bankruptcy)

[Airforceguy]

Can't say I'm surprised, the chain has been doing poorly lately. In addition to closing their Augusta store, stores in McDonough and Snellville will be closed as well. In all, Gander is closing 32 stores nationwide.

The company said it will conduct “normal business operations” for the time being, and employees will continue to be paid.

Yet much remains unclear, such as:

What happens to existing orders, backorders, customer exchanges and repairs?
What, if anything, should gun owners do if their firearms in the possession of one Gander’s numerous and generally well-regarded in-store gunsmiths?
Will there be big closing sales? And if so, when do we get in line?
Here are the 32 stores slated for closure:

Alabama (4) – Gadsden, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
Georgia (3) – Augusta, McDonough, Snellville
Illinois (3) – Champaign, Algonquin, Springfield
Indiana (2) – Merrillville, Greenfield
Minnesota (3) – Rogers, Mankato, Woodbury
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
According to the company news release:

“Today’s action is the result of an in-depth review of the company’s strategic options undertaken in recent months to preserve the value of the company and position it for long-term success. Like many retailers, Gander Mountain experienced challenging traffic patterns and shifts in consumer demand resulting from increased direct-to-customer sales by key vendors and accelerated growth of e-commerce. Despite aggressive actions to improve the efficiency of the company’s retail operations and support functions, the underlying financial impact from underperforming stores and unproductive, excess inventory hampered efforts to create a sustainable path forward.

Gander Mountain bankrupt, to close 32 stores

[GRU_Minion]

Not surprised at all. The fact that there's nothing else by it retail-wise didn't help them either. I think Bass Pro would've thrived well here *IF* they built their originally planned large-format store at the VAR and not one of the Outpost style stores that was later planned where Gander Mountain sits. Just not room for two identically sized and themed stores that close together in our market as it stands.

[AUGnative]

Originally Posted by GRU_Minion

Not surprised at all. The fact that there's nothing else by it retail-wise didn't help them either. I think Bass Pro would've thrived well here *IF* they built their originally planned large-format store at the VAR and not one of the Outpost style stores that was later planned where Gander Mountain sits. Just not room for two identically sized and themed stores that close together in our market as it stands.

The problem with Bass Pro is that they expect communities to bend over and kiss their behinds and give them all sorts of giveaways to come. They were originally looking at locating in Columbia County in that area where Gander is but the county would not give them all the generous tax brekas and free infrastructure that they wanted. they pretty much wanted taxpayers to pay for building the store. They did end up getting more generous tax rebates and infrastructure via the TAD at VAR from Richmond County.. hence why they located there but still even with all that RC gave to them they still only built an "outpost". I do not agree with taxpayers subsidizing these large corposrations to locate their stores in your town. The one exception is using tax credits to entice grocery stores to locate in food deserts like downtown Augusta and some parts of south Augusta.. but instead RC uses TAD financing to entice things like Bass Pro Outpost and Costco to affluent areas like west Augusta which are certainly not hurting for retail businesses.

[AUGnative]

I travel to South Augusta quite often and grew up there so do not lecture me about South Augusta son. Hi know South Augusta inside out. And the fact is there are some parts of South Augusta which are nearing the level of food desert or are at very least very underserved.

[nortonguy]

The moderators deleted Amilovingit comment, but there is no food desert in South Augusta. South Augusta has more grocery stores than Grovetown. I do understand why posters feel the need to respond back, because the comments are completely over the top a lot of times..

The Whole Foods thread was trolled for multiple pages lol... Gander Mountain closing in Columbia County has 3 comments.. Same few posters. In fact someone is trying to shift the discussion to a imaginary food desert in South Augusta.

People just have to understand posters can say anything on citydata no matter how outrageous it is..

[PJA]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

The problem with Bass Pro is that they expect communities to bend over and kiss their behinds and give them all sorts of giveaways to come. They were originally looking at locating in Columbia County in that area where Gander is but the county would not give them all the generous tax brekas and free infrastructure that they wanted. they pretty much wanted taxpayers to pay for building the store. They did end up getting more generous tax rebates and infrastructure via the TAD at VAR from Richmond County.. hence why they located there but still even with all that RC gave to them they still only built an "outpost". I do not agree with taxpayers subsidizing these large corposrations to locate their stores in your town. The one exception is using tax credits to entice grocery stores to locate in food deserts like downtown Augusta and some parts of south Augusta.. but instead RC uses TAD financing to entice things like Bass Pro Outpost and Costco to affluent areas like west Augusta which are certainly not hurting for retail businesses.

Bass pro didn't build an outpost store here. And they were looking at Richmond county BEFORE Columbia county.

[cst8670]

Makes me wonder what if any impact this will happen on the Bass Pro/ Cabela's merger.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by GRU_Minion

Not surprised at all. The fact that there's nothing else by it retail-wise didn't help them either. I think Bass Pro would've thrived well here *IF* they built their originally planned large-format store at the VAR and not one of the Outpost style stores that was later planned where Gander Mountain sits. Just not room for two identically sized and themed stores that close together in our market as it stands.

Gander Mountain is a cross between Academy Sports + Outdoors, REI, and Bass Pro Shops. Competition among outdoor sports and lifestyle stores has peaked. Gander Mountain has skipped over several major cities (i.e. Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee).

[Pu239]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

The moderators deleted Amilovingit comment, but there is no food desert in South Augusta. South Augusta has more grocery stores than Grovetown. I do understand why posters feel the need to respond back, because the comments are completely over the top a lot of times..

The Whole Foods thread was trolled for multiple pages lol... Gander Mountain closing in Columbia County has 3 comments.. Same few posters. In fact someone is trying to shift the discussion to a imaginary food desert in South Augusta.

People just have to understand posters can say anything on citydata no matter how outrageous it is..

Pot... meet kettle

[AUGnative]

yes, because his comment was not a comment but a personal attack. It is getting very tiresome on this forrum with a few people who do nothing but make personal attacks and launch into their tiresome tirades everytime someone disagrees with their rose-colored fantasy world. BOy itw as so nice on here for a few weeks.... now it's back