Florida boaters and anglers are learning that retailer West Marine is closing stores across the state as part of a broader restructuring effort.
In Tallahassee, the loss is old news.
The Fort Lauderdale-based company, the nation’s largest boating and marine supplier, confirmed it is shuttering select locations after filing for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May. The restructuring includes 59 store closures nationwide and eight in Florida.
Missing from the closure list is Tallahassee’s only West Marine store. That’s because it’s already closed.
The Tallahassee location, which had been in the Governor’s Pointe shopping center, in front of the Target on Apalachee Parkway, shuttered in December 2024.
At the time, signs posted on the storefront announced the shutdown, and crews were later seen clearing out the store’s interior.
The store specialized in boating accessories, parts, fishing supplies and apparel, serving recreational boaters and anglers in the Capital City and surrounding Big Bend region.
Now, the company’s financial troubles are coming into sharper focus.
In bankruptcy court documents, West Marine listed more than 100,000 creditors, assets between $500 million and $1 billion, and liabilities in the same range. The company said the closures are part of an effort to align its retail footprint with current business needs.
“West Marine is closing select retail locations as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring,” the company said in a statement to USA TODAY. “This decision reflects our effort to align our store footprint with our current business needs, while continuing to evaluate our portfolio in coordination with landlords.”
The eight Florida stores slated to close are in Bonita Springs, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Orlando, Palm Coast, Port Charlotte, Venice and Winter Haven. No closing dates have been announced for those locations.
For Tallahassee-area boaters and anglers, however, the news serves as another reminder of a retailer that has already disappeared from the local landscape, leaving customers to seek out alternative suppliers for marine and fishing gear.
This story contains previously published reporting.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: West Marine cuts Florida stores as Tallahassee closure lingers
Reporting by Staff report, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Staff report, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
