Area Outfitters List Shrinks with Closings

Two outdoor outfitters on opposite ends of the spectrum have closed their doors in the past year.

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Midale, Utah-based Sportsman’s Warehouse, which employed about 50 people and carried a wide array of hunting, fishing and camping gear, closed its Rogers location in May. Fayetteville’s White River Angler, which employed two and catered to fly fishing enthusiasts, closed about a year ago.

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Sportsman’s Warehouse was the largest store on last year’s annual list of largest outdoor outfitters. This year’s list honors both Lewis & Clark Outfitters locations in terms of number of full-time equivalent employees. There are now 10 retailers on the list with a total of about 94,700 SF of retail space. The top five stores represent 75,000 SF of that space.

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In all, the market lost about 56,000 SF of outdoorsman-type retail space with the closings.

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The good news is that employment numbers remained strong at the other retailers, with a net gain of one employee at Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville where Larry Aggus is in the process of selling the store to his son, Bret Aggus.

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Robert Ginsburg, owner of Uncle Sam’s Safari Outfitters in Fayetteville said his store’s business was good during the summer months, which are typically slower.

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He attributed the steady business to increased regional camping trips by locals in lieu of extended vacations requiring more expensive out-of-area travel.