Bob’s Stores to Close; Eastern Mountain Sports’ Future Unclear

Vicki M. Young
4 min read

The third go-around in Chapter 11, the so-called Chapter 33, is never a good thing.

Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers said on Monday they are managing going-out-of-business (GOB) sales across all 21 Bob’s Stores locations. The future of retail sibling Eastern Mountain Sports remains unclear.

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Mountain Sports LLC filed a Chapter 11 petition in a Delaware bankruptcy court on June 18. Versa Capital Management acquired Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) in 2012, and placed the operation in its Vestis Retail Group, which included Bob’s Stores and Sport Chalet.

Vestis filed its Chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy court protection in 2017. Sport Chalet stores closed as part of the bankruptcy restructuring which saw Versa acquire Bob’s and EMS under the new parent entity, Eastern Outfitters Inc.

But one year later, Eastern Outfitters filed for Chapter 11 for the second time. The two banners were acquired by Mike Fraser’s Sports Direct International Plc, but were later sold to GoDigitalMedia Group in 2022.

The two liquidation firms said on Monday in a statement that Bob’s Stores was liquidating because it was “unable to secure the finances needed to maintain operations.” GOB sales began on Friday.

“We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bob’s Stores. Bob’s has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years, and we know our customers remember us as having been there for major moments in their lives,” Bob’s Stores’ president Dave Barton said. “We remain grateful to our vendors, suppliers, customers and employees for all of their support over the years.” Barton is also CEO of Mountain Sports LLC.

According to a bankruptcy court document, Barton said that EMS markets to the adventurer looking for reliable and functional outerwear and gear at a value price. In contrast, Bob’s targets moderate-income customers with a selection of footwear, workwear, teamwear and activewear.

The fate of EMS—which operates over two dozen locations—is uncertain.

The Chapter 11 petition listed estimated assets and debts each at between $10 million to $50 million. Among the vendors holding the top five unsecured claims are Yell Steel Enterprise Inc., import services, $472,335.00; Smartwool Corp, a VF Outdoors Inc. firm at $455,290.00; Oboz Footwear LLC, $431,146.30; Marmot Mountain Intl’l, $353,647.76, and North Face, VF Outdoors Inc., $322,581.52.

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