Aurora Sportsmens Warehouse to close

[scratchy]

Sorry if a repost, I didn't see it anywhere I looked:

Sportsman’s Warehouse Closing 23 Stores

Aurora, Pocatello and Nampa stores on chopping block; other Idaho and all Montana stores to remain open; UFA to own 15 stores.

By Bill Schneider, 3-10-09



The pending purchase of Sportsman’s Warehouse by UFA Co-operative United (UFA) of Calgary, Alberta has partially unraveled. (Click here for NewWest.Net’s breaking story on the acquisition.)
In a teleconference with all Sportsman’s Warehouse employees yesterday afternoon CEO Stu Upgaard announced that 23 of the company’s 67 stores would be closing in the next few months, including two stores in Idaho (Pocatello and Nampa) and one in Colorado (Aurora). Other Idaho stores and all Montana stores would remain open.
In a phone interview with NewWest.Net, Upgaard explained that the company ran in to major cash crunch. “UFA did not close the transaction,” he explained. “They missed four closing dates. Now, we have no liquidity.”
And the banks are putting extreme pressure on the company to reduce debt, he said. “They have all the money. They (the banks) are trying to force us into bankruptcy, and we’re trying to avoid it.”
“We’re closing 23 stores to reduce our bank debt,” he explained, “and we’re selling 15 stores to UFA for the same reason. We are now a 29- store chain.”
In the teleconference, Upgaard said UFA will have the rights to use the Sportsman’s Warehouse brand on the 15 stores for up to two years, but will likely start the process of re-branding the stores as Warehouse Sports, a similar Canadian sports store chain UFA already owns.
These 23 stores are being liquidated: Aurora, CO, Coon Rapids, MN, DePere, WI, Henderson, NV, Lafayette, IN, Las Cruces, NM, Las Vegas, NV, Legacy, TX, Memphis, TN, Nampa, ID, New Berlin, WI, Oklahoma City, OK, Pittsburgh, PA, Pocatello, ID, Roanoke, VA, Rogers, AR, Round Rock, TX, St. Cloud, MN, Sioux Falls, SD, Southaven, MS, Visalia, CA, Wichita, KS and Woodbury, MN
These 15 stores are being sold to UFA: Bend, OR, Bozeman, MT, Burlington, WA, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Fargo, ND, Federal Way, WA, Helena, MT, Kennewick, WA, Lacey, WA, Missoula, MT, Portland, OR, Salem, OR, Silverdale, WA, Spokane, WA, and Vancouver, WA
NewWest.Net has calls into the corporate offices of UFA for comment and will update this story if more details come in.


http://www.newwest.net/city/article/...res/C426/L426/

[kwando]

wonder when they will raise prices and advertise it as a "liquidation" sale... LOL

[xjtwo]

Hmmm, didn't see the one down here in Co Spgs on the block...........yet.

[Xrunner]

Interesting... doesn't look good for the chain if the sale with UAW doesn't go through.

[roman gnome]

Just what UFA might have had in mind to begin with!

[Ridge]

Honestly I cant remember the last time I bought something there...before the election, when they had ammo, it always was marked up a bit...I think the last thing I bought there was the soft case for my old Hi Point in November 07......

[Ridge]

Stopped by today...they have a shit-ton of Lancer L5 and DPMS mags, but for $30 a pop!!

Oh well, picked up some survival gear, another Surefire G2 and some Surefire EarPro's Ive been wanting for a while...

[Dr_Fwd]

Frankly, I don't care, the place sucked anyway.

[7idl]

I was just there 20 min ago.


sale started today (10-30% off)

no returns

no more .mil discount

employees found out monday


almost no more handguns left, only a small selection of mags

somewhat ok supply of wood stocked rifles and shotguns.

[XJ]

I'm sure it's not easy to be in that business, but maybe if they could keep some items in stock, that would help the bottom line. I'm not even talking about EBR's and ammo that are beyond their control lately, but regular items like cleaning supplies that get people in the door and likely to pick up something else on the same trip.

Camo and hunting clothes are obviously a seasonal purchase for most folks, but they stock huge piles of it year-round. Maybe they should re-balance the clothing selection, try and pick up some of the "outdoor lifestyle" shoppers.

They shouldn't have trouble getting under REI on price for camping gear, but there is probably a penalty because of the self-imposed "image" that some higher-spending REI customers have (same issue with clothing).

Fishing isn't one of my hobbies, not sure how that part of the store compares.