New Gander Mountain owner answers Tweets on future of Niles store
The new owner of the Gander Mountain outdoor goods retail chain is Tweeting that he hasn't decided yet if the store at the Eastwood Mall Complex will ultimately be closed. Marcus Lemonis, Star of the CNBC show “The Profit", has been responding to Tweeted questions about the future of various Gander Mountain stores since a bankruptcy court approved plans by his company Camping World to conduct inventory liquidation sales at all Gander Mountain stores.
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NILES, Ohio - The new owner of the Gander Mountain outdoor goods retail chain is Tweeting that he hasn't decided yet if the store at the Eastwood Mall Complex will ultimately be closed.
Marcus Lemonis, Star of the CNBC show “The Profit", has been responding to Tweeted questions about the future of various Gander Mountain stores since a bankruptcy court approved plans by his company Camping World to conduct inventory liquidation sales at all Gander Mountain stores.
Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of recreational vehicle product retailer Camping World, has made it clear that he wants to keep Gander World's boating business, but said his company is only obligated to continue operating a minimum of 17 of Gander Mountain's locations.
Responding to a 21 News inquiry submitted on Friday asking if the Niles store will be closed after being open for little more than a year, Lemonis Tweeted, “working on it”.
Lemonis may be referring to a comment he made during a conference call held on Thursday when he said since he his looking to only keep profitable stores, his company may be renegotiating leases with some property owners.
Joe Bell, Director of Corporate Communications for the Cafaro Company which operates the Eastwood Mall, noted this week that many times retailers will use bankruptcies as reasons to renegotiate leases on properties.
As of Thursday, Bell said that he had not heard anything official about closing the Niles Store.
According to the Gander Mountain website, “going out of business” sales are being conducted at all 126 locations nationwide.
Lemonis has said the idea behind the liquidation sales is to get rid of current inventory and start with what he calls “a clean slate”.
Responding to another Tweet expressing disappointment at the prospect of closing the Niles store, Lemonis answered “Hasn't been decided by me yet”.
Joe Bell said he doesn't know why someone would close the Gander Mountain here since the new, larger location at 2390 Niles Cortland Road NE opened just one year ago.
The Cafaro Company isn't waiting for Camping World's decision.
Bell says Cafaro is putting out feelers for any companies that might be interested in a brand new building that he says is well suited for an outdoor retail business