Update: Mountain Warehouse acquired the EMS brand name, seven EMS stores, the company’s website, and other assets for $10 million in a deal that closed on Sept. 2, according to a news release. Don’t miss our interview with Mountain Warehouse Founder Mark Neale here and more background on the deal and bankruptcy proceedings here.

Outdoor retailer Mountain Warehouse was approved to acquire seven Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) stores after no other offers followed the U.K.-based chain’s $5 million stalking horse bid.

That means EMS, Bob’s Stores, and their related entitles still owe PNC Bank approximately $5 million, said Goldstein & McClintock’s Maria Aprile Sawczuk at the Aug. 29 hearing about the sale.

“The budget has been revised, and we’re probably going to be uploading a new budget on the docket because they’re going to take some of these store sales out to the end of September for they think it will yield higher market margins for the estate,” she said.

The remaining 20 EMS stores and 21 Bob’s Stores will close after liquidation sales conclude.

EMS, Bob’s Stores, and their related entities declared bankruptcy in June.

Parent company GoDigital detailed its expansion plans for the retailers to The Daily in the spring of 2023.

Mountain Warehouse said it plans to continue operating the stores under the Eastern Mountain Sports name.

About Mountain Warehouse

Mountain Warehouse returned to profitabilty in 2023, reporting a 4% revenue increase from the previous year and a pre-tax profit of £26.2 million in its annual report. In 2022, the chain reported a loss of £1.5 million.

Store revenue grew by 7.1% and online sales grew by 2.2% through 2023.

The company planned to add or relocate 50 stores, bringing its total to 363, in 2024.

The chain started with one store in 1997 and has grown to more than 350 stores in eight countries. The stores mainly sell its in-house line of branded goods.

Kate Robertson can be reached at [email protected].