Orvis Closing 36 Stores

Orvis (Manchester, Vermont) plans to close almost half its stores by early 2026, report a variety of news sources, including the VT Digger. The closures are part of the family-owned chain’s efforts to return to what President Simon Perkins described in a statement on the company’s website as its “core passions of fly fishing and wing shooting.”

Though that statement did not mention store closings, subsequent reporting by news organizations confirmed that a downsizing of its 60-some store fleet was part of that plan. In its reporting of the news, Compass Vermont attributed the moves to three main factors:

•  First and foremost, the profile of the American outdoor enthusiast has fundamentally changed, shifting from a dedicated “lifestyle hobbyist” to a more casual and diverse “outdoor sampler.”
•  Economic pressure stemming international trade tariffs. While the brand is famous for its high-end, Vermont-made fly rods, a large portion of its revenue has come from a wide array of apparel, dog products, and home goods manufactured overseas.
•  Climate change and the resulting degradation of the natural world that its sports depend on poses a long-term existential threat for the chain.

The company’s plans include closing 31 stores and all five of the outlet locales it operates, VT Digger notes. The retailer is thus far declining to reveal which specific main-line stores it will close.