Beloved sporting goods store shutting down after 54 years | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Sporting goods and outdoor gear retailers have struggled with multiple major players filing bankruptcy, and some shutting down for good.

On a national basis, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Academy Sports have thrived, but big names like Modell’s, Bob’s Stores, Orvis, and Moosejaw have disappeared, while Eastern Mountain Sports has shrunk its footprint, and Eddie Bauer has plans to close all its U.S. brick-and-mortar locations.

It has been a challenging time in a space that would seem like it should have somewhat of a moat protecting it from the internet. I know that if I was buying a tent, a sleeping bag, or other outdoor gear, I would want to handle it, or at least see it, and boots and sneakers should be tried on before buying.

The industry’s woes, however, go back more than 10 years to 2016 when The Sports Authority closed.

“The pressure in the sporting goods business is no different than it always has been,” Joseph Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group told CBS News, who added that competition from online retailers is particularly intense.

Dick’s, which has been a retail innovator in creating interactive stores, is also partly to blame.

“There’s Sports Authority with their run-down stores, and there’s Dick’s will all kinds of activities in their stores, shooting arrows, golfing,” said Howard Davidowitz, the head of the retail consultancy and investment bank Davidowitz & Associates. “The stores are beautiful. The assortment is 10 times better.”

It’s a situation that has now been exacerbated by tariffs,and a consumer base wary of making discretionary purchases. All of those things contributed to the decision to close down Rocky’s Great Outdoors, a retailer that opened in 1971.

Rocky’s Great Outdoors closing its doors

Macro pressures have created an increasingly challenging environment in the outdoors and sporting goods space.

“The industry has another challenge on the horizon: 84% of sporting goods executives expressed concern about the impact of the geopolitical environment on their business.2 Potential tariff increases this year could have a significant effect on the sporting goods sector, particularly in terms of pricing and supply chain management,” McKinsey report in its Sporting Goods 2025—The new balancing act: Turning uncertainty into opportunity report.

These macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures have translated into slower sales and reduced foot traffic across the sector, a trend reported by multiple chains and reflected in recent store closures.

Rocky’s Great Outdoors began as a humble 1,200 square foot store, which grew into the nearly 50,000 square foot space it occupies today. The family of the founder, Paul “Rocky” Roll, said the decision to close was not an easy one.

TheStreet confirmed the closure through company statements, liquidation partners, and local reporting.

“It’s a bittersweet day for us. You may have seen this photo circulating of the signs going up, and while it’s hard to say goodbye, we’re incredibly grateful for all the love and support you’ve shown us over the years. We will be closed today as we set up, but starting tomorrow we’ll be opening our doors with some great deals inside as we prepare for our closing,” the company shared on its Facebook page.

Rocky’s actually began by selling motorcycle parts before pivoting to outdoors, camping, fishing, archery, hiking, and more in the early 1990s.

More Retail:

Hundreds of customers flooded the retailer’s Facebook page with many posting pictures of Roll and others sharing their goodbyes.

“Hate to hear this! It was a wonderful place, and I used to go there often,” Roderick McKinnis wrote.

Many saluted the store for its customer service and merchandise.

“Over the many years, I’ve purchased my leather jacket, riding gloves, many t-shirts, fishing waders, and a few camping supplies. Some items may have been expensive, but quality has always been second to none, Loved Rocky’s. Hate to know it’ll soon be a place of my past,” wrote Frank Venner.

Rocky’s Great Outdoors: Key dates

1971: Rocky’s Great Outdoors opens its doors in Burton, Michigan. Originally a motorcycle parts and accessories store founded by Paul “Rocky” Roll, according to the company’s website.
Early 1970s to 1990s: The store expanded merchandise beyond motorcycle parts into outdoor gear like camping, fishing, archery, snowmobile accessories, apparel, boots, and more, the company added.
2010s to 2020s: Became a local institution, known for a wide range of outdoor products and community presence in Burton, according to My City Magazine.
2024: Paul “Rocky” Roll (founder) passed away, leaving his legacy at the store, shared local news station WCRZ.
February 6, 2026: Announced the closing of the Burton store after 54 years in business. Liquidation sale begins, reported MLive.com.

Shutterstock

Rocky’s holding a liquidation sale

Rocky’s has contracted with Liquid Assets, a company that specializes in liquidation sales, to sell off its remaining merchandise. That sale has already begun.

The store’s owners and Liquid Assets shared what customers can expect over the next 12 weeks in a press release:

Store Closing Sale begins Saturday, February 7, 2026
Runs for 12 weeks
Discounts across every department
Motorcycles, outdoor gear, apparel, accessories, fixtures, and more
The building will also be offered for sale
Weekly updates and details available at www.LiquidAP.com

Burton Mayor Duane Haskins told MLive.com, that the closing of Rocky’s is sad news for the city.

“In Burton, when you say Rocky’s, people know exactly what you mean,” he said.

Sporting goods and outdoor store closures since 2020

Olympia Sports, a Maine‑based sporting goods chain founded in 1975, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to close all of its remaining stores by the end of September 2022, ending nearly 47 years of business, according to data from PacerMonitor.
Moosejaw (outdoor specialty retailer): Dick’s Sporting Goods closed most Moosejaw stores after acquiring the brand in 2023, and all remaining three stores shuttered in 2024 as the business was folded into Dick’s outdoor concept Public Lands, according to SGP media.
Public Lands (Dick’s Sporting Goods outdoor brand): As of early 2025, the number of Public Lands stores dropped dramatically to about three locations from eight previously listed as Dick’s scaled back its outdoor footprint, shared Retail Dive.
Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports: Parent company Mountain Sports LLC filed for bankruptcy in June 2024 and announced plans to close all Bob’s Stores locations and liquidate assets during restructuring; EMS locations were reduced and reorganized under new ownership agreements, according to data from Stretto.
Next Adventure (Portland outdoor retailer): Long‑standing local gear and specialty outdoor store chain announced closures of its shops, with initial plans to shut most locations by late 2025 amid owner retirement and business pressures, reported TheStreet.
Orvis is closing a significant number of its retail locations, announcing it will shut 31 full-price stores and 5 outlet stores by early 2026 (about half its stores) as part of a strategic downsizing and refocus on core fly-fishing and hunting products, according to TheStreet.