Newly imposed U.S. tariffs, weaker consumer spending, and rising costs have put immense pressure on businesses that rely on imported goods. Due to these challenges, many retailers have been forced to restructure and cut costs, leading to a wave of store closures over the past several months.  

Now, another well-known retailer is feeling the impact of the uncertain economy.

The iconic outdoor and lifestyle brand Orvis will permanently close 36 locations in 2026, including 31 stores and five outlets. It plans to exit the lifestyle apparel space and return to its original identity as a leading fly-fishing and hunting brand.

“We’re stepping into an exciting new chapter — one focused on our core passions of fly fishing and wingshooting. This return to our roots is a renewed dedication to innovation, a commitment to our angling and upland communities, and to the wild places we love,” said Orvis President Simon Perkins in a statement.

Perkins didn’t disclose which locations will be affected, but did reveal that the company will offer “special savings on last release products” as it works to clear inventory ahead of the rebrand.

Founded in 1856 in Vermont as a fly-fishing equipment store, Orvis later expanded into lifestyle offerings, including sportswear, gifts, home furnishings, luggage, travel accessories, and even pet products.

Currently, the retailer operates around 80 stores in the U.S. and has a network of more than 400 dealers worldwide.

Orvis will close 36 retail stores to return to its roots amid economic struggles.

Image source: Shutterstock

Orvis faces ongoing business challenges

This is not the first time Orvis has made major cuts in its business. In January 2024, the company moved its headquarters from Sunderland, Vermont, to a smaller office in Manchester, citing the shift to a hybrid work model post-pandemic. 

However, Orvis laid off 112 employees later that year, representing about 8% of its workforce, closed some stores, and discontinued its long-running catalog.

The layoffs continued into 2025, with 50 employees, or about 4% of the workforce, being let go in June.

Related: Why your favorite retail store is going out of business

These moves are part of Orvis’ strategy to cut costs and reinvest in more profitable areas to adapt to the current economic climate.

“Like many in retail, Orvis’ business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of an unprecedented tariff landscape,” Perkins told WWD. “To ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint.”

Retail chains struggle with mass closures

Orvis is not alone in its struggle. Major discrepancies between store closures and openings have become a concerning trend in the industry.

While the National Retail Federation projects retail sales to grow between 2.7% and 3.7% in 2025 over the year prior, this still represents a slowdown compared to 3.6% in 2024.

According to CoreSight Research, announced store closures in 2025 are up 67% compared to last year. 

Historic retailers including Macy’s  (M) , JCPenney, and Kohl’s  (KSS)  have all faced mass closures, while once-iconic brands such as Party City, Joann, and Forever 21 have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a long fight to survive.

As of July 4, nearly 6,000 retail closures have been reported nationwide, outpacing just over 4,000 new openings. This is a sharp increase from the same period in 2024, when 3,496 closures were recorded. 

Related: Retail chain announces more store closures after U.S. bankruptcy