Bob’s Stores, Eastern Mountain parent files for bankruptcy

The parent company of Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores has filed for bankruptcy protection and plans to shutter several New England bricks-and-mortar locations.

Eastern Mountain Sports sells outdoors gear, while Bob’s is a discount footwear and clothing store.

Meriden, Connecticut-based Vestis Retail Group LLC said Monday that the bankruptcy filing was made because of increased competition from big-box stores and online retailers, as well as an unseasonably warm winter that made for poor sales of cold weather clothing.

The New England EMS stores slated to close are in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Warwick, Rhode Island; and West Hartford, Connecticut. The Bob’s location scheduled to close is in South Portland, Maine.

Bob’s Stores has four locations on Long Island in East Northport, West Islip, Patchogue and Selden. The sole Island location for Eastern Mountain Sports is in Carle Place.

If the courts approve, the company would emerge from bankruptcy with 35 Bob’s Stores and 53 Eastern Mountain locations.

With Aisha Al-Muslim

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