If you’ve wandered into the outdoors section of any shopping center in the last decade, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a Sportsman’s Warehouse. The company has been around since the late 1980s, and for thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, it’s been a tried-and-true place to grab fishing gear, trail shoes, or just about everything you need for your next hunting trip.
But with some recent store closures making headlines, a lot of people are starting to ask: Is Sportsman’s Warehouse going out of business? And should you be worried if you’re a regular shopper there?
Let’s sort through what’s actually going on.
What’s Happening Right Now at Sportsman’s Warehouse?
First, let’s get straight to the core question. As of recent reports, Sportsman’s Warehouse is not going out of business. There is no evidence of a total shutdown, mass liquidation, or bankruptcy filing. That said, they have closed—or are planning to close—a handful of stores.
So, what’s really going on? The company is making some tough decisions to close underperforming locations. Management says this is about making the business healthier and focusing on spots where stores are more successful. At last count, Sportsman’s Warehouse was operating about 146 to 148 stores across 32 states. That’s a pretty big footprint—even after closing several locations.
No parent company is pulling the plug, and there are no frantic clearance sales sweeping across the country. The chain is still public, and you can still walk into most of its stores and find just about everything you did last year.
Why Are Some Sportsman’s Warehouse Stores Closing?
You’ve probably heard about other retailers closing stores, especially in the wake of big shifts in shopping habits. Sportsman’s Warehouse is facing a lot of the same challenges. Some locations just aren’t bringing in enough sales. Others are in areas where it’s getting harder to turn a profit.
Like many retailers, Sportsman’s Warehouse watched its sales rocket during the height of the pandemic. Folks suddenly had extra time—and a renewed push to get out in nature safely. But as life returned to normal, those huge sales numbers started to cool off. Add in higher costs for rent, wages, and transportation, and running a brick-and-mortar store got a lot harder.
So, the decision was made to close a handful of stores. Recent news pointed to about five locations that were under review. To put that in context, we’re talking about less than 5 percent of all their stores.
Another piece of the story is debt. The company wants to improve its financial stability long-term, which means getting rid of locations that are dragging on profits. If those stores aren’t likely to get better soon, closing them frees up money to invest in better-performing areas.
How Many Stores Are Still Open—And Where?
Depending on which quarter you look at, Sportsman’s Warehouse operates either 146 or 148 stores across 32 states. The numbers move a bit as locations open, close, or occasionally move to new addresses.
The company still has a noticeable presence out West—places like Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada. But you’ll also see them in states ranging from Alaska to North Carolina. Their stores tend to pop up in towns that stick close to the outdoor lifestyle. Fishing, camping, hiking, and hunting are the bread and butter of this brand.
If you live in a midsize city or a smaller metro area, there’s a good chance you’re not far from one of their locations. While store closures can worry regular customers, most of the company’s geographic reach remains untouched—at least for now.
Restructuring, Not Quitting: The Company’s Current Strategy
So what’s the plan behind all these tweaks?
Company leadership has been direct. They’re restructuring—not quitting the business. Sometimes this strategy is called “right-sizing” a store network. That means keeping strong stores, closing weaker ones, and investing in better inventory, marketing, and digital operations.
In late 2021, there was talk of a possible merger. But that deal didn’t go through. Sportsman’s Warehouse stayed independent as a publicly traded company, with shares continuing to be sold on the Nasdaq. That’s usually a sign investors see a reason for the business to keep going.
Management’s message is that these closures are about taking care of long-term business basics. It’s not always fun to see a favorite shop close, but the idea is to focus resources where they have the best effect. For anyone who remembers when larger chains like Sports Authority or Gander Mountain pulled the plug nationwide, this situation doesn’t resemble those stories. There’s no sign Sportsman’s Warehouse is ready to disappear.
Do Store Closures Mean the Company Is on the Edge?
A lot of people worry that when a company closes stores, it means everything else is about to fall apart. But in reality, it’s often just a way to fix what isn’t working.
Take just about any big retailer over the last ten years. Whether it’s Macy’s, Target, or even Walmart, closing some locations doesn’t always spell disaster for the chain. Sometimes it’s just about keeping the whole company in good shape. Sportsman’s Warehouse is following that playbook.
When a store isn’t earning enough, it actually makes the company weaker to keep it running. Shutting it down helps prevent further losses and makes more cash available for the stores that are still pulling their weight. For customers, yes—losing a location is a pain. But it doesn’t mean the online store or other locations are shutting down.
Also, the sporting goods industry is a tricky place these days. You have to compete with big box retailers, local specialty shops, and, of course, Amazon. Store closures are part of making sure the rest of the stores—and the company overall—aren’t put at risk.
What Are the Next Steps for Sportsman’s Warehouse?
The company is clear about staying independent and publicly traded. That gives Sportsman’s Warehouse a lot of flexibility to change course as needed. For now, the plan is to focus on profitable growth, keep innovating with digital and loyalty programs, and make stores as efficient as possible.
If you want to see how all of this is working, the best bet is to check out their latest earnings reports. They tell you whether sales are growing, whether online orders are up or down, and how much debt or cash the company really has in the bank. These reports are public—anyone can look.
It’s fair to say the chain is under some financial pressure, and the management isn’t pretending otherwise. They’re reacting, which is usually a better sign than pretending nothing is wrong.
By trimming what isn’t working and focusing their energy, they’re betting on surviving the next few years in a shifting retail market. Plenty of businesses have bounced back from rough periods after cuts like these.
If you’re interested in how companies steer through tough times—or if you ever need a business plan—there are sites like Upward Business Plan that offer clear breakdowns of restructurings and financial strategies.
Should You Be Worried as a Shopper?
For regular customers, nothing much has changed when it comes to the in-store experience. Sales trends say people are still spending on gear for camping, hunting, and fishing—especially as outdoor hobbies remain a staple in American life. If your local store is among those closing, it’s inconvenient, no doubt. But for most of the country, Sportsman’s Warehouse locations are still doing business, and the website remains open 24/7.
If you’re worried about gift cards, product returns, or warranties, those are all things the company is still honoring. There’s no mass liquidation. No “everything must go” event. Just a slow adjustment to reality, which is something we’ve seen—even from the strongest retailers—year after year.
Looking Deeper: The Takeaway
So, is Sportsman’s Warehouse going out of business? Nothing suggests a companywide shutdown. Most experts don’t see it as a chain teetering on the edge. Instead, it’s a company making necessary cuts to secure its future.
It’s natural to worry when you hear about store closures, but those are often about building a stronger business in the long run. If you’ve followed retail news at all, you know how quickly things change. One month, a chain is closing a half-dozen stores. The next, it’s launching a fancy new loyalty program or renovating its flagship locations.
If you’re an outdoors fan, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on headline news, especially if you have credits, rewards, or pricey equipment tied to the brand. For those closely tracking the business side, you’ll probably want to check out the company’s latest reports as they’re released.
To track how things might change, watch for updates from both trade sites and the company itself. There’s nothing urgent to panic about right now, but as always, it pays to stay informed. Sportsman’s Warehouse is doing what it has to do in a very tough retail environment, and while it’s not smooth sailing, there’s no storm sending the ship under just yet.
If you’re hunting for official numbers or more detailed breakdowns, take a look at the company’s recent earnings announcements or their public financial filings. That’s still the best way to get clear, up-to-date info—right from the source.
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