The Moosejaw store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a popular spot for outdoor clothing, has permanently closed its doors. The store, known for its wide range of outdoor gear, ended its operations on January 17. This marks the end of an era for the nearly 20-year-old business in the heart of Ann Arbor.
Moosejaw Store Takeover Leads to Multiple Closures
Nearly one year following the announcement by Dick's Sporting Goods about their acquisition of Moosejaw, significant changes are unfolding.
The Michigan Daily reports this major shift in ownership. Moosejaw, a familiar name in the American retail world since 1992 and formerly under Walmart's ownership, is facing a major reduction in its physical presence.
As a result of the takeover, 11 out of 14 Moosejaw stores are set to close. This includes closing seven stores in Michigan, including shops in Birmingham on West Maple Road, Ann Arbor, Belmont, downtown Detroit, East Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grosse Pointe.
Additional closures are happening beyond Michigan, with Moosejaw shutting down its stores in Boulder, Colorado; Kansas City, Missouri; Olathe, Kansas; and Chicago. Amidst these widespread closures, only three Moosejaw stores will continue operations.
They are in Bentonville, Arkansas; Salt Lake City; and Birmingham on Woodward Avenue.
Todd Spaletto, Senior Vice President of Dick's Sporting Goods, expressed confidence in the growth prospects of Moosejaw under its new management.
In a recent press release, he highlighted Moosejaw's 30-year legacy as a leader in the outdoor industry. "We have great respect for what Moosejaw has achieved and are excited about this opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each other," stated Spaletto.
He added, "We see a strong potential for expanding Moosejaw's business, offering more choices and unique experiences to its dedicated customer base."
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Moosejaw Takeover Sparks Mixed Reactions
Dick's Sporting Goods executives believe that acquiring Moosejaw will enhance the company's efficiency. When Walmart purchased Moosejaw in 2017, the chain had only 10 locations and 350 employees.
Yet, this takeover has not been universally welcomed among the staff.
Following the announcement of the closures, a customer criticized Dick's Sporting Goods for harming a beloved local brand, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. "Dick's did Moosejaw very dirty," they alleged.
Despite these closures, Moosejaw inaugurated a new store in Salt Lake City, Utah, last October. This store is one of the three Moosejaw locations that remain open.
In Salt Lake City's Central City neighborhood, just a block south of the 900 East TRAX station, stands a building with a history of about a hundred years. Despite its age, this building has been selected as the ideal location for a new store.
Nick Rau, Director of Operations at Public Lands, admired the Salt Lake City store, hailing the city as an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. "We knew Salt Lake was a place we had to be," he enthused, according to KSL.
The retail landscape has been changing rapidly, with over 4,600 store closures in the U.S. during 2023, based on data from Coresight Research and reported by CBS. This trend of store closures is seemingly continuing into 2024.
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