Valdosta’s Gander Mountain closing

Published 12:59 pm Friday, May 5, 2017

VALDOSTA — “Going out of business” and “Everything must go” signs went up suddenly on the front of Gander Mountain’s Valdosta location Friday.

News of the closing of the Valdosta outlet of the financially troubled outdoors supplier surprised customers.

“I bought a gun here, and bullets,” said Sandy Patterson, who had not heard of the closure before pulling into the store’s parking lot Friday morning. “The store was great, though the prices were a little high.” She also praised the store’s manager as “a great guy.”

“I’m going to have to buy my ammunition somewhere else,” she said.

The Gander Mountain chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March and released a list of 32 stores targeted for closure. On that list, the only stores closing in Georgia were supposed to be in Augusta, Lawrenceville and McDonough. Valdosta was not on that list; neither was Albany, where another Gander Mountain suddenly put up “closing” signs Friday.

The Gander Mountain brand name was purchased at bankruptcy auction by Camping World, an RV manufacturer. Camping World has an outlet in Lake Park, only 12 miles away from Valdosta’s Gander Mountain location.

Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, said in a Twitter exchange Friday there are no plans to convert any Gander Mountain sites to Camping World stores.

Local Gander Mountain staff referred all comments to a corporate officer who has not returned calls yet.

Gander Mountain opened its 52,000 square foot store in Valdosta in fall 2012.

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.