Executive Summary:
Dick’s Sporting Goods is quietly reducing its footprint in the outdoor retail market, consolidating its Public Lands brand and closing Moosejaw stores after acquiring the retailer from Walmart in 2023. As of February 2025, Public Lands lists only three stores, down from eight in November, while Moosejaw’s website now redirects to Public Lands, signaling the end of its standalone presence.
This move follows a broader trend of downsizing in the outdoor industry, with major brands like REI, Patagonia, L.L. Bean, and Orvis facing layoffs and store closures due to declining demand post-pandemic. Dick’s has previously pulled back from hunting gear, divested its Field & Stream brand, and shifted Public Lands toward camping and active outdoor pursuits rather than firearms and hunting.
Despite earlier optimism about the outdoor category, the industry downturn appears to have forced a strategic retreat, raising questions about the long-term viability of specialty outdoor retail.
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