Eastern Mountain Sports to Close Middletown Location

By Tony Schinella (Patch National Staff) - April 8, 2017 9:45 am ET

MIDDLETOWN, RI — More retail changes are coming to New England in the wake of the bankruptcy filing of the parent company of both Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, according to a report from WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire. The report cited bankruptcy paperwork that shows the company will close Bob’s locations in Seekonk, South Attleboro, and Franklin, Mass., along with two others in the Bay State. In New Hampshire, the stores on South River Road in Bedford and Cluff Crossing in Salem are also closing.

No Bob's in Rhode Island is on the list, but the Eastern Mountain Sports in Middletown is closing.

Eastern MS locations on the DW Highway in Nashua and the Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem are also going to be shuttered.

Eastern Outfitters LLC, according to retaildive.com, has 86 Bob’s and EMS stores across the country employing about 2,600 people. After filing for bankruptcy last year, the company is working on a deal with another company in Britain as well as closing 48 stores that are underperforming.
The company has been flipping between private equity firms in previous years, according to Law360.com, and has more than $100 million in debt.

The news comes as other stores in New England – including Radio Shack – are closing.
The bankruptcy court will eye the proposal next week.