West Marine, a major boating and marine supply retailer that has been operating since 1968, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
While the bankruptcy will allow the company to continue operating during its restructuring, West Marine has confirmed in court documents that it will close 59 locations as part of the process. Here’s what you need to know about West Marine’s bankruptcy and which stores are closing.
What’s happened?
On May 17, West Marine, Inc. announced it had filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
West Marine began its life as a rope supply store in California in 1968, but in the 58 years since then, the company expanded to more than 200 locations across the country, becoming the nation’s largest retailer of boating, fishing, and other marine supplies.
As of the time of its bankruptcy filing, West Marine operated in 34 states and Puerto Rico.
Unfortunately for fans of the chain and many of its employees, as part of West Marine’s bankruptcy, the chain has confirmed that it will be closing more than a quarter of its existing 200 locations.
Why is West Marine filing for bankruptcy?
In a press release announcing the bankruptcy, West Marine cited several reasons for its Chapter 11 filing. These reasons include “supply chain disruptions, extreme weather events, and shifts in consumer behavior,” according to the company.
For many of West Marine’s customers, boating and fishing are recreational activities, and when inflationary pressures and economic worries abound, as they currently do, many people choose to cut back on their discretionary spending, with spending on recreational activities and non-essentials, like eating out, often the first to go.
Given this, it’s little surprise West Marine cited “shifts in consumer behavior.”
Is West Marine going out of business?
No. It’s important to stress that West Marine is not going out of business. The company has entered Chapter 11 precisely because it wants to restructure so it is on a firmer financial footing and can continue to operate going forward.
As the company states on its bankruptcy website, it is still open for business and it remains “focused on delivering the top-quality marine products, service, and expertise to our customers, and expect no changes to day-to-day operations throughout this process.”
The company also said it will fulfill its obligations to its employees throughout the bankruptcy process, “including pay and current benefits.”
Unfortunately, as part of that process, over a quarter of the company’s 200 stores will close. It is not clear how many job losses will result from the closures.
Fast Company has reached out to West Marine for comment.
Which West Marine stores are closing?
According to court documents filed earlier this month, 59 West Marine stores are expected to close across 23 states. The states hit hardest by the closures include Florida (8 stores closing), Michigan (6 stores closing), California (5 stores closing), and Washington (5 stores closing).
Currently, West Marine still lists the closing stores on its store locator tool on its website. After these stores close, West Marine will have fewer than 150 locations.
West Marine has enlisted Hilco Merchant Resources, a liquidation firm, to help oversee the closings. It is unknown when the stores confirmed to be closing will shutter for good. An agreement with Hilco and West Marine filed in the court says store closing sales should last no longer than about four months.
Here is the full list of West Marine closing stores:
Alabama
- WMX Dog River, 5004 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL, 36605-9644
California
- WM Chula Vista, 630 Bay Blvd Ste 103, Chula Vista, CA, 91910
- WMX Monterey, 2024 Del Monte Ste A, Monterey, CA, 93940-3740
- WM Oceanside, 1719 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside, CA, 92054
- WM Antioch, 4645 Century Blvd, Pittsburg, CA, 94565-7107
- WM Redding, 2607 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA, 96002
Florida
- WM Bonita Springs, 28520 Bonita Crossings Blvd Ste 1, Bonita Springs, FL, 34135-3205
- WM Fernandina, 474347 E State Road 200, Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034
- WM Jacksonville Beach, 14180 Beach Blvd Ste 4, Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
- WM South Orlando, 7478 S Orange Blossom Trl Ste A, Orlando, FL, 32809-5781
- WM Palm Coast, 250 Palm Coast Pkwy NE Unit 507, Palm Coast, FL, 32137
- WM Pt. Charlotte, 4265 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL, 33980-2512
- WM Venice, 1860 Tamiami Trail S, Venice, FL, 34293
- WM Winter Haven, 1107 3rd Street SW Ste 8, Winter Haven, FL, 33880
Georgia
- WM Savannah, 7700 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA, 31406
Illinois
- WM Fox Lake, 2 W Grand Ave, Fox Lake, IL, 60020
- WM Winthrop Harbor, 1707 7th St, Winthrop Harbor, IL, 60096
Louisiana
- WM Lafayette, 2668 Johnston St Ste B-2, Lafayette, LA, 70503
Maine
- WM Portland, 12 Marginal Way, Portland, ME, 04101
- WM Southwest Harbor, 11 Apple Lane, Southwest Harbor, ME, 04679
Maryland
- WM Baltimore Harbor, 2700 Lighthouse Pt E Ste 100, Baltimore, MD, 21224
- WM Edgewater, 3257 Solomon’s Island Rd Ste B2, Edgewater, MD, 21037
- WM Ocean City, 12638 Ocean Gateway Units 1-5, Ocean City, MD, 21842
- WM Rock Hall, 21386 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD, 21661
Massachusetts
- WM Marblehead, 32 Atlantic Ave, Marblehead, MA, 01945
- WMX Vineyard Haven, 52 Beach Rd, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568
Michigan
- WM Bay City, 4128 Wilder Rd, Bay City, MI, 48706
- WM Grand Haven, 810 Jackson St, Grand Haven, MI, 49417
- WM Muskegon, 2492 Henry St Ste B, Muskegon, MI, 49441
- WM Petoskey, 105 West Mitchell St, Petoskey, MI, 49770
- WM St. Clair Shores, 25050 Jefferson Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI, 48080
- WM Troy, 789 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI, 48083
Missouri
- WM Osage Beach, 3872 Osage Beach Pkwy, Osage Beach, MO, 65065
Nevada
- WM Reno, 2505 Mill St, Reno, NV, 89502
New Jersey
- WM Cape May, 791 Route 109, Cape May, NJ, 08204
- WM Eatontown, 178 State Route 35 S, Eatontown, NJ, 07724
- WM Toms River, 213 Route 37 East, Tom’s River, NJ, 08753
New York
- WM Rochester, 1850 Ridge Road East, Irondequoit, NY, 14622
- WM Port Washington, 16 Soundview Marketplace, Port Washington, NY, 11050
- WM Watertown, 21214 Pioneer Plaza Dr, Watertown, NY, 13601
North Carolina
- WMX Oriental, 1104 Broad St Ext, Oriental, NC, 28571-9786
- WM Raleigh, 3027 Capital Blvd Ste 111, Raleigh, NC, 27604
Ohio
- WM Cleveland, 1577 Saint Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, OH, 44114
- WM N. Olmsted, 24781 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH, 44070
- WM Sandusky, 207 E Water St, Sandusky, OH, 44870
Oregon
- WM Tigard, 15230 SW Sequoia Pkwy Ste 190, Tigard, OR, 97224
Pennsylvania
- WM Bensalem, 2126 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA, 19020
South Carolina
- WM Anderson, 3501-2 Clemson Blvd Ste 110, Anderson, SC, 29621
- WM Murrells Inlet, 12078 Highway 17 Bypass Unit A, Murrells Inlet, SC, 29576
- WM North Myrtle Beach, 1288 Highway 17 N, North Myrtle Beach, SC, 29582
- WMX Port Royal, 1347 Ribaut Road Ste B, Port Royal, SC, 29935
Tennessee
- WM Knoxville, 7812 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37919
Virginia
- WM Glen Allen, 10819 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA, 23060
Washington
- WM Bellingham, 3560 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA, 98225
- WM Bremerton, 5971 State Hwy 303 NE, Bremerton, WA, 98310
- WM Everett, 1716 West Marine View Dr, Everett, WA, 98201
- WM Port Townsend, 2428 Washington St, Port Townsend, WA, 98368
- WM Spokane, 5306 East Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA, 99212
Wisconsin
- WM Milwaukee, 4141 S 76th St, Greenfield, WI, 53220
This story is developing and may be updated…