Eastern Mountain Sports is closing its store near Christiana Hospital, following a decision by the parent company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The filing last month included the announcement by Vestis Retail that eight Eastern Mountian Sports stores would close, along with the entire Sports Chalet chain and one Bob’s sporting goods store would be shuttered.
Sports Chalet has more than 40 stores on the West Coast.
Vestis, which is based in Connecticut, filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware, a popular venue for mid-sized retailers. The company is owned by a Philadelphia investment firm.
Vestis cited high real estate costs and a lack of profits as the reasons for the store closings.
The Christiana store, located at Capano Management’s Center Point Plaza Two, more recently, faced stiff competition in its outdoors goods niche from West Coast outdoor cooperative REI, which opened a store last year at Christiana Fashion Center.
While in a different market niche, there was also some competition with the popular Cabela’s store near Christiana Mall a year or so earlier.
Online giants, like Amazon, are also taking advantage of changing shopping habits among young outdoor goods customers, who order online.
Also filing for Chapter 11 protection was Sports Authority, which earlier closed a store in north Wilmington.
