Bob's Stores

Two sister sporting goods and clothing brands are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The U.K. owner of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports has sold the two sporting goods and clothing brands to a company that focuses on intellectual property rights management through divisions in music, video networks and brands.

Avenue Stores has tapped a veteran retailer as its next chief executive.

As of August 31, 16 retailers have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017. Four of those sixteen retailers are filing for “Chapter 22”, meaning this is their second time declaring bankruptcy. Chapter 22 cases show that the first bankruptcy failed and that the firm and its advisors were too optimistic regarding the firm’s viability out of bankruptcy. The chart below summarizes the four Chapter 22 filings over the past year:  

The Finish Line's board on Monday adopted a shareholders right plan as the retailer warned of a grim second quarter and a steep decline in sales and profits for the year.    

Sports Direct, the largest sporting goods retailer in the United Kingdom, has expanded its presence in the United States.   The company announced that it has completed its acquisition of Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports. It will initially operate a total of some 50 stores in the Northeast and five EMS outdoor adventure schools, along with e-commerce sites for both brands.   

Eastern Outfitters could soon be adding to the surge of store closings among U.S. retailers.   The company won a court order on Thursday, April 6, for an expedited hearing on its plan to shutter 48 of the 86 stores its operates under the Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports brands, according to Reuters.  

Eastern Outfitters, the parent company of Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.     The company listed assets and liabilities in the range of $100 million to $500 million in its filing        British sporting goods retailer Sports Direct International has engaged in extensive talks with Eastern Outfitters to become a stalking-horse bidder in a bankruptcy auction, Reuters reported.    

The sporting goods industry could be facing another major retail bankruptcy filing.

Vestis Retail Group, parent company of Eastern Mountain Sports, Sport Chalet and Bob’s Stores is preparing to file for Chapter 11 protection, according to Bloomberg.

Vestis Retail Group, which is owned by private equity firm Versa Capital Management LLC, could file as soon as next week, the report said.

New York-based retailer Bob’s Stores has had stores all over the Northeast for more than a half-century, but now the company has finally set its sights on Maine shoppers.

The retailer will hold a grand opening for its first location in the state of Maine, in South Portland, at 301 Maine Mall Road, on March 22.

Bob’s last opened a store in October 2011 in East Northport, N.Y.