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West Marine Files Chapter 11 and Will Close 59 Stores

Blaming heavy lease costs, extreme weather plus falling discretionary spending, the company has hired Hilco to run limited four-month liquidation sales during a court-supervised reorganization.

Overview

  • The company filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition and disclosed roughly $549.2 million in outstanding debt in court filings.
  • West Marine confirmed plans to close 59 locations across 23 states, with Florida (8), Michigan (6), California (5) and Washington (5) among the hardest hit.
  • The retailer has engaged Hilco Merchant Resources to manage store liquidations and says closing sales will be limited to about four months per the court agreement.
  • Stores not on the closure list and the company’s online channels will remain open, and West Marine says it will continue employee pay and current benefits during the restructuring.
  • The chain traces its troubles to long-term lease obligations, supply chain disruptions, extreme weather and weaker discretionary spending, and it is pursuing an expedited reorganization with ongoing court hearings and a possible mid‑August emergence timeline.