Gander Mountain
FormerlyGander Mountain, Inc. (1960–2017)
Gander Outdoors, Inc. (2017–2020)
Gander RV (2020-2022)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1960 (1960), in Wilmot, Wisconsin
Defunct2022 (2022)
FateConverted into Camping World
SuccessorCamping World
HeadquartersSaint Paul, Minnesota
Number of locations
162 (March 2017)
Key people
Marcus Lemonis, CEO
ProductsApparel, Equipment, & Accessories for: Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Outdoor Recreation
RevenueIncreaseUS$ 1.32 billion (2016) IncreaseUS$ 1.065 billion (2008) [1]
IncreaseUS$ −15.5 million (2008)[1]
Total assetsDecreaseUS$ 613.1 million (2008)
Total equityDecreaseUS$ 179.9 million (2008)
Number of employees
5,606 (2,325 full-time) (January 2009)[1]
ParentCamping World (2017–2022)
WebsiteArchived official website at the Wayback Machine (archived March 3, 2010)

Gander Mountain, later known as Gander Outdoors and Gander RV, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, was a retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreation products and services.

Gander Outdoors logo (2017-2020)
Gander RV logo (2020-2022)

History

Gander Mountain Incorporated began as a catalog-based in Wilmot, Wisconsin. Wilmot is located near Gander Mountain, the highest point in Lake County, Illinois, a short distance across the state line. As of March 2017 the chain had 162 stores in 27 states,[2] making it the largest chain of outdoors specialty stores in the United States.[3]

In the 1990s the company sought bankruptcy protection and began to rebuild its business once it emerged. In 1996 it sold its mail order division and then later acquired the watersports company Overton's in order to relaunch its mail order business.[4]

The company filed for bankruptcy in March 2017 with plans to close 32 stores.[2][5] On April 28, 2017, Camping World Holdings was announced as the winner of the bankruptcy auction of Gander Mountain. On May 5, 2017, Gander Mountain announced via its website the upcoming closure of all of its locations.[6] The new owner, Marcus Lemonis, has clarified through his account on Twitter that the bankruptcy court has sold the inventory and is liquidating it. Not all stores will remain closed if a new lease can be worked out with each landlord.[7] On January 4, 2018, Camping World announced an official list of stores that will reopen under the new Gander Outdoors branding, where 69 stores will open.

From 2019 to 2020, Gander Outdoors replaced its parent company Camping World as the title sponsor of NASCAR's Truck Series.[8][9]

Management

Gander Mountain was formerly traded on NASDAQ but was turned into a private company under the majority ownership of David Pratt and the Erickson family,[10] which own Holiday gas stations.

David C. Pratt was elected chairman of the board in December 2006. Pratt was elected as a director of Gander Mountain in August 2005 and named vice chairman of the board in December 2005. Jay Tibbets served as chief executive officer.[11]

Operations

Gander Mountain offered sportswear, hunting, fishing, camping, and other related outdoor recreation equipment.[12]

Gander Mountain sold its mail order business to Cabela's in 1996 with a no-compete clause.[13] In 2007 it won a lawsuit brought by Cabela's to resume online sales. On December 6, 2007, the company announced it purchased boating and watersports catalog company Overton's for $70 million (~$95.7 million in 2022) from a private-equity firm. The purchase of Overton's, based in Greenville, North Carolina, helped Gander Mountain's transition back into direct marketing.

In December 2013, Gander Mountain brought suit against Cabela's claiming that the competitor was illegally using domain names related to its business. The lawsuit accused Cabela's of "violating federal and state statutes as well as common law." Additionally Gander Mountain claimed that Cabela's was in violation of the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, trademark infringement and trademark dilution.[4]

Locations

Gander Mountain store in Appleton, Wisconsin, using 1980's–2004 era logo.
Map of Gander Mountain stores.

Gander Mountain's stores ranged in size from 50,000 to 120,000 square feet and offered an outdoor esthetic. Physically, and visually, the stores had wider shopping aisles, high-joist ceilings, brick and stone accents, log-wrapped columns, and other wilderness related decorations.

Gander Mountain online store officially opened in August 2008.

Following the closure of all Gander Mountain stores, 69 stores in 22 states reopened under the Gander Outdoors name.[2]

Gun sales

Gander Mountain called itself the top seller of new and used firearms in the United States. Starting in 2010, it had opened six Gander Mountain Academy and Firearms Supercenters, originally called “gun world”, where it estimated that over 250,000 people had received training.[14]

Bankruptcy

In March 2017, Gander Mountain voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[15] The retail chain decided to close 32 underperforming stores in 11 states. The company also began looking for a buyer.[15] However, there was initially little to no interest from potential buyers. Store closures began in April with the affected stores holding inventory liquidation sales.[15]

Sale to Camping World

On May 1, 2017, Camping World Holdings, Inc., acquired Gander Mountain at auction for an estimated $35.4 million. As part of the deal, Camping World was obligated to operate a minimum of 17 Gander Mountain stores. As of 2018, Gander Outdoors had 59 open locations.[16] The revamp included incorporating Camping World merchandise at select Gander Mountain locations.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gander Mountain SEC Form 10-K" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, Charisse (March 13, 2017). "Gander Mountain latest sports retailer to fail". USA Today. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Gander Mountain responds to bankruptcy rumors". Star Tribune.
  4. 1 2 Orrick, Dave (14 December 2013). "Gander Mountain sues Cabela's over web addresses". TwinCities.com, Pioneer Press. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Gander Mountain is closing 32 stores: Is yours on the list?". USA Today. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  6. ↑ "GanderMountain.com". GanderMountain.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Camping World Announces Acquisition of Gander Mountain and Overton Assets". investor.campingworld.com.
  8. ↑ Hembree, Mike (May 8, 2018). "NASCAR Truck Series to be renamed Gander Outdoors Truck Series in 2019". USA Today. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Camping World ending NASCAR Truck Series sponsorship after 2022". 28 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "#204 Holiday Cos". Forbes.
  11. ↑ "Company Overview of Gander Mountain Company Inc". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  12. ↑ Farrell, Perry A. "8 Gander Mountain stores replaced by Gander Outdoors in Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  13. ↑ "Sportsmen ponder Bass Pro Shops-Cabela's merger". Arkansas Online. 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  14. ↑ "Gander Mountain president said St. Paul-based chain took outdoors advocacy and training seriously". Star Tribune. October 1, 2016. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  15. 1 2 3 Palank, Jacqueline. "Gander Mountain Files for Chapter 11". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  16. ↑ "Camping World drives beyond the RV park with acquisition spree". Retail Dive. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  17. ↑ Ciesco • •, Tim (2018-05-11). "A Year After Bankruptcy, Store Closures, Gander Outdoors Makes Comeback in North Texas". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
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