Gander Mountain
| File:Gander Mountain logo.jpeg Final Gander Mountain logo (2003–2017) | |
| Formerly | Gander Mountain, Inc. (1960–2017) Gander Outdoors, Inc. (2017–2020) Gander RV (2020–2022) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1960, in Wilmot, Wisconsin |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Fate | Absorbed into Camping World |
| Successor | Camping World |
| Headquarters | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Number of locations | 162 (March 2017) |
Key people | Marcus Lemonis, CEO |
| Products | Apparel, Equipment, & Accessories for: Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Outdoor Recreation |
| Revenue | IncreaseUS$ 1.32 billion (2016) IncreaseUS$ 1.065 billion (2008) [1] |
| IncreaseUS$ −15.5 million (2008)[1] | |
| Total assets | DecreaseUS$ 613.1 million (2008) |
| Total equity | DecreaseUS$ 179.9 million (2008) |
Number of employees | 5,606 (2,325 full-time) (January 2009)[1] |
| Parent | Camping World (2017–2022) |
| Website | Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archived March 3, 2010) |
Gander Mountain, which later operated under the names Gander Outdoors and Gander RV, was a retail chain headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota that specialized in products and services related to hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreational activities.
History
Originating as a mail-order business located in Wilmot, Wisconsin, Gander Mountain Incorporated took its name from the nearby Gander Mountain peak, the highest elevation point in Lake County, Illinois, just across the state border. By March 2017, the company operated 162 stores across 27 states,[2] establishing itself as the largest specialty outdoor retail chain within the United States.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
During the 1990s, the company underwent bankruptcy proceedings and subsequently restructured its operations. In 1996, it divested its mail order segment but later reacquired it by purchasing Overton's, a watersports-focused company, to revive its catalog business.[3]
In March 2017, Gander Mountain filed for bankruptcy protection and announced plans to shutter 32 stores.[2]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name On April 28 of that year, Camping World Holdings emerged as the winning bidder in Gander Mountain's bankruptcy auction. Shortly thereafter, on May 5, 2017, Gander Mountain communicated via its website that all store locations would be closing.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Marcus Lemonis, Camping World's CEO and new owner, clarified through Twitter that the bankruptcy court had authorized liquidation of inventory and that some stores might reopen if lease agreements could be renegotiated with landlords.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Subsequently, on January 4, 2018, Camping World revealed a list of 69 stores slated to reopen under the refreshed Gander Outdoors brand.
The acquisition by Camping World Holdings occurred on May 1, 2017, at an estimated purchase price of $35.4 million. The terms required Camping World to maintain operations at a minimum of 17 Gander Mountain stores. By 2018, Gander Outdoors had resumed operations at 59 locations.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name As part of this transition, select Gander Mountain outlets began offering merchandise from Camping World.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Between 2019 and 2020, Gander Outdoors succeeded its parent company Camping World as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Truck Series.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Operations
Gander Mountain specialized in offering a broad assortment of outdoor recreation gear, including sports apparel, hunting, fishing, and camping equipment. Previously listed on NASDAQ, the company transitioned into private ownership, primarily controlled by David Pratt alongside the Erickson family, who also own Holiday gas stations. David C. Pratt assumed the role of chairman of the board in December 2006, having joined as a director in August 2005 and appointed vice chairman later that same year. The position of chief executive officer was held by Jay Tibbets.
Locations
Store sizes for Gander Mountain varied between 50,000 and 120,000 square feet, all designed with an outdoor-themed ambiance. Physically and visually, the stores featured spacious aisles, lofty ceilings with exposed joists, brick and stone detailing, columns wrapped in logs, and other elements inspired by nature.
The company's e-commerce platform launched officially in August 2008.
After all Gander Mountain retail locations closed, 69 stores across 22 states reopened operating under the Gander Outdoors brand.
Gun sales
Gander Mountain promoted itself as the leading retailer of both new and pre-owned firearms in the United States. Beginning in 2010, it established six Gander Mountain Academy and Firearms Supercenters—initially branded as “gun world”—where it reported that more than 250,000 individuals had completed firearm training courses.
Legal
Gander Mountain sold its mail order division to Cabela's in 1996 under a non-compete agreement. However, in 2007, it successfully contested a lawsuit filed by Cabela's to reinstate its online sales operations. On December 6, 2007, Gander Mountain announced its acquisition of Overton's—a boating and watersports catalog company based in Greenville, North Carolina—from a private equity firm for $70 million (adjusted for inflation). This acquisition supported Gander Mountain’s renewed focus on direct marketing.
In December 2013, Gander Mountain filed a lawsuit against Cabela's alleging unauthorized use of domain names related to its business. The complaint asserted violations of federal and state laws as well as common law claims. Furthermore, Gander Mountain accused Cabela's of infringing upon the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act along with trademark infringement and dilution violations.
Bankruptcy
In March 2017, Gander Mountain initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The company opted to shut down 32 locations across 11 different states. Subsequently, the business began searching for potential purchasers; however, initial buyer interest was minimal. Store closures commenced in April, with affected outlets conducting inventory clearance sales.
References
External links
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Webarchive template wayback links
- Companies based in Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Sporting goods retailers of the United States
- American companies disestablished in 2022
- Retail companies established in 1960
- Retail companies disestablished in 2022
- 1960 establishments in Wisconsin
- 2022 disestablishments in Wisconsin
- Defunct companies based in Minnesota
- Defunct retail companies of the United States
- Privately held companies based in Minnesota
- Firearm commerce
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017