Gander Mountain Closings

[rcnixon]

Am I the last to notice this? Coming down I-95 south last weekend, I saw that the Gander Mountain store in Hanover County, VA had a big "closing" sign on the building. A little web searching shows that this isn't the only Gander Mountain store to close recently. I dealt with them in the early to mid-90's but not so much after that as they seemed to be quite proud of their mercendise. A Greentop Sporting Goods store will be opening at the Hanover County location and from what I've read, the locals there are happy about that.

Russ

 

[charlie sherrill]

It seems that the less fancy, lower overhead stores have lower prices. Losing the local Gander would not bother me a bit. I don't know where they get their crazy gun and ammo prices from. I can usually find what I want at Wally world or my LGS. A few weeks ago my son and I went to Acadamy's and GM. I asked him if he noticed a difference in the two and when he didn't I pointed out that the people coming out of Acadamy's were carrying bags and those at GM were empty-handed. I also don't like sales gimmicks that bring prices back down to where they should be.

 

[Muley Gil]

The Green Top in Glen Allen, Virginia, north of Richmond, is a neat shop.

 

[ACP230]

I have managed to find several firearms bargains at the Gander Mountain
nearest to me. Also a pile of Uncle Mike's J and K frame rubber "Spegel"
grips.

So, I'd be somewhat upset if it closed.

 

[hd28cw]

I'm glad to hear it Gander Mountain has to have the highest prices i've ever seen on firearms and ammo.....At least the knoxville, tn store anyway...... $65.00 for 100 round winchester "white box" 45 target ammo....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Marshwheeling]

It comes as no surprise to me. Not just their guns are expensive. Everything in there comes with a premium price. I have bought a few shirts on sale, a pair of shoes on clearance, and a few other small items that I know I can get cheaper on line but it's right there in front of me, I want it now, and it's on my way home.

But most of my visits are purely for tire kicking. I like to see what's new in the handgun case, and I have been tempted by a couple of used guns, but never pulled the trigger.

Most significantly, it is hard not to notice that the sales people invariably outnumber the customers in the place by two to one. I have been wondering how this location stays open.

 

[mr.jbk79]

The only suprise is this didn't happen sooner. There's a Cabelas not to far from one of the GMs in the area, and Cabelas usually always has better pricing across the board.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I delt with Gander back in the late 80's mostly mail order.I think they went under later on. I think they were aquired by Cabelas. Don't know for sure.

 

[CO_Kid]

The Green Top in Glen Allen, Virginia, north of Richmond, is a neat shop.

Bought several guns, most of my ammo, and a bunch of other stuff from Greentop when I lived in Richmond. Loved that place.

Hanover is right to be excited about getting a Greentop branch.

 

[CajunBass]

Hanover is right to be excited about getting a Greentop branch.

It won't be a new branch. Greentops will be closing the store on RT-1, and moving across the street to the Gander Mountain building. The move will probably come this fall/winter sometime.

Greentops is my favorite gun store. It is the mythical "Ali Babba's House O Guns" I make reference to from time to time.

When my wife first moved to Richmond, from the Chicago area, what she knew about the area, she learned from Patrica Cornwall's novels. One of those things was Greentops. She was surprised to find out it was a real place. The first time she went in with me, her eyes almost literally bugged out. She whispered to me, "Is this LEGAL?" I replied, "No, the cops don't know about this place. don't tell them."

When I first encountered Gander Mountain here in Fredericksburg, they were a good place to shop. I purchased several guns from them, but over time the prices went up and selection went down. I don't even go in anymore to look around. The store in Glen Allen was doomed from the start, being located only a couple of blocks from Greentops, and only a couple of miles from the Bass Pro Shops.

 

[Buckey08]

I used to spend a couple grand a year at GM, then their prices went outa sight! Now I don't even bother too go in. Best friend works for them, never has a bad thing to say about anything so I was some what taken back when he started to complain about the way the company treats customers.

 

[Moonman]

Maybe the "GOUGER" Mountain philosophy finally caught up with them.

 

[ChuckS1]

Not surprised about Gander Mountain in Glen Allen, and wouldn't be surprised if the Fredericksburg store closed. I stopped going there to buy reloading supplies when the primer and powder prices were through the roof. Last time I went, the store's interior seemed run down, for lack of a better phrase. Shelves unstocked, floor in need of a good sweeping, that sort of thing. Won't be missed, IMHO.

 

[blujax01]

There are two in the Columbus metropolitan area. I don't know how they stay in business. There are locally owned small shops in most every 'burb. Super Independents Vance's and Buckeye Outdoors eat them alive on price and selection. With the announcement of a Cabela's opening next year on the north side I'm guessing at least one of them - if not both - is a goner.

 

[Chipmunk6]

Howdy Cagun, the little building 50 ft south of Green Top was the
original gunshop(it's now the barBQ place). I've got a reciept in
my files for a H-S Double Nine dad bought in '64, cost a whole
$45.ºº new. It still looks like new. That old shop was crammed
full of stuff.

Chipmunk6

 

[silentflyer]

Green Top +++++ number 1, good prices, friendly knowable staff.

 

[Faulkner]

Maybe the "GOUGER" Mountain philosophy finally caught up with them.

The only place in central Arkansas higher than Gander Mountain is Dick's Sporting Goods.

 

[CajunBass]

Howdy Cagun, the little building 50 ft south of Green Top was the
original gunshop(it's now the barBQ place). I've got a reciept in
my files for a H-S Double Nine dad bought in '64, cost a whole
$45.ºº new. It still looks like new. That old shop was crammed
full of stuff.

Chipmunk6

I don't remember it ever being in the old gas station, but did know it had been at one time. I do seem to remember it being much smaller, about what is the lowered floor area today, then they added the rest later on.

My wife and I go by there at least once a week. Funny thing, that we joke about, but it seems to be true. "Our" parking spot is always empty. If it's not, someone will be pulling out of it when we get there. This happens nine out of ten times, I kid you not. We joke that someone watches Rt 1 and when they see us coming, they tell whoever is parked there, "You gotta move your car. That spot is taken."

 

[pharmer]

The local (Lake Mary Fl) GM opened about 10 years ago. For the first few years (especially after the AWB sunset in '04) they were very competitive. Then a bout 5 years ago they went off the deep end. Prices were no longer connected to reality. I haven't been in in several years although I have used the parking lot for private sales. Walmart has AR's in the case so they must compete or go away. Joe