The Vermont-based outdoor gear and apparel company Orvis will close 31 stores and five outlet locations by early 2026.
Orvis President Simon Perkins confirmed the looming closures in a statement Thursday.
“We will be concentrating on a more focused retail store portfolio, as well as brick-and-mortar opportunities through our valued dealer network,” he said. “We know this impacts people who are significant members of the Orvis family.”
The closures are the latest in a tough year for Orvis, a hallmark of Vermont’s outdoor economy and the fly fishing and bird hunting communities in general. Last October, the company announced it would lay off 8% of its workforce, 112 people, and discontinue its catalog. Then in June, citing tariffs, Orvis announced another 50 layoffs, representing 4% of its staff.
Founded in 1856 in Manchester, Orvis claims to have been the oldest mail-order retailer in the United States and sells fishing equipment, bird hunting gear and outdoor apparel.
In his statement Thursday, Perkins said the retail downsizing represented an attempt to focus on the business’s core strengths: fly fishing and bird hunting. The shift will also bring a “tightening” of the products the company offers, he indicated.
“We are investing in the areas where Orvis makes its greatest impact — world-class gear and apparel, unforgettable experiences, and a deep commitment to conservation,” he said. As the company reduces its offerings, he suggested there will be sales at the closing stores and on discontinued products.
The company declined to provide details on which stores will close or on Orvis’s existing retail footprint. A store locator on the company’s website appeared to show at least 64 retail locations and five outlets.
