70-year-old sporting goods chain quietly closing stores

You could argue that the sporting goods industry has been struggling since 2016, when Sports Authority went out of business.At the time, analysts noted that the space has always been competitive."The pressure in the sporting goods business is no different than it always has been," Joseph Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, who added that competition from online retailers is particularly intense, told CBS News.In the years since then, major regional players, including Modell's, Bob's Stores, and Olympia Sports, among others, have closed their doors.Analysts still see opportunity in the space, but acknowledge its challenges.“While the year ahead will be marked by uncertainty, it will also offer opportunities,” Alexander Thiel, a partner at McKinsey, said in a statement to Retail Dive.“As the global population continues to expand, and more people adopt healthier and more active lifestyles, brands, retailers, and manufacturers have chances to grow," he added. "But this potential should be contrasted with continuing political and economic unpredictability, which is playing out in almost every region globally.”It has been a challenging market, and one of the largest players, Big 5 Sporting Goods, has been steadily closing stores.Big 5 Sporting Goods is worried about the competition“The retail market for sporting goods is highly fragmented and intensely competitive… Some of our competitors have a larger number of stores, greater e‑commerce capabilities…If our competitors reduce their prices, it may be difficult for us to retain market share without reducing our prices, which could impact our margins,” Big 5 Sporting Goods shared in an SEC filing.The company does not mention Dick's Sporting Goods and Amazon by name, but it's clearly addressing them in the 10-K Risk Factors filing.“While e‑commerce has been a rapidly growing sales channel and an increasing source of competition in the retail industry, sales from our e‑commerce channel are not material to our operations. If we are unable to compete successfully, our operating results may suffer,” the company added.The chain, which is the process of being taken private, has quietly and steadily been shrinking its retail footprint.Confirmed Big 5 Sporting Goods store closuresSeveral Big 5 Sporting Goods locations in Colorado are closing, with specific stores slated to shut their doors in the coming weeks, according to 9news.com.In the Denver area, three specific Big 5 stores (e.g., on Iliff Avenue, S. Colorado Blvd., and Wheat Ridge) have been reported as going out of business, with closeout sales underway, added Mile High on the Cheap.A Big 5 store in Pocatello, Idaho, is confirmed to be closing for good, shared East Idaho News.The Big 5 in Garden City, Idaho, is also scheduled for closure by year‑end, reported Idaho Statesman.In northern Colorado, the Big 5 in Fort Collins has announced its final days amid broader challenges for sporting goods retailers, according to K99: Northern Colorado’s New Country.Sporting goods stores have struggled.ShutterstockBig 5 Sporting Goods has been steadily shrinkingBig 5 has been gradually reducing its store footprint in recent years — in fiscal 2024 it closed more than it opened, reflecting slower sales and inflationary pressure, according to the company's SEC filings.As of mid‑2025, the company operated about 414 stores, down from prior years, and expected to close additional stores without opening new ones in that period. Source:SGB OnlineThe chain is also undergoing a take‑private acquisition by Worldwide Golf and Capitol Hill Group, which could influence future store strategy and investment, according to SEC documents.Big 5 has not commentedAside from its formal filings, Big 5 Sporting Goods has not commented on its financial situation, and it no longer has a legal requirement to do so, given its efforts to go private. The chain's website, however, tells its own story.When a retailer's website touts its "biggest clearance sale ever," that's usually not a great sign about the health of the company.In my over 30 years covering the retail industry, huge sales usually happen when a chain faces a cash crunch, has made major inventory purchasing mistakes, or has decided to close at least some stores.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryLululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behaviorT-Mobile launches free offer for customers after major lossHaving run a large retail store, we used a once-a-year sale to clear out our warehouse. If we discounted an item more than 40%, we generally lost money on it, but that was sometimes needed to clear out merchandise that might never sell at full price.Big 5 Sporting Goods did not immediately return a request for comment filed on its website's contact us page.Outdoor and sporting goods retailers closing storesOrvis: Confirmed plans to shut down 31 full-price stores and five outlet locations by early 2026, reducing its footprint from over 70 to 33 stores.Moosejaw: After being acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2023, all remaining Moosejaw stores and the website were closed by August 2024.Bob’s Stores: This 70-year-old sporting goods chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed permanently.Next Adventure: A Portland-based outdoor retailer shut down all locations in late 2025, citing economic challenges and owner retirement.Liberated Brands (Volcom, Billabong, Quiksilver): Over 100 stores nationwide are closing after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.Foot Locker & Champs Sports: Following a merger with Dick’s Sporting Goods, approximately 400 stores are expected to close by 2026, focusing on underperforming mall-based locations.JAX Ames Outdoor Gear: The family-owned retailer in Iowa liquidated its assets and closed at the end of the summer in 2025. Source: TheStreetRelated: Bankruptcy forces massive closures at fast-food chicken chainThis story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.