Eastern Mtn Sports

Its was kind a  shock to see that EMS has gone under.  I have always felt that they were a great store and their EMS branded clothing and packs were always excellent. they say they are still in business but do not even have a webstore at the moment.  I did hear through the grapevine that their climbing school shut down suddenly. 

Hello Nick, Do you have some recent information or has it taken a while for 'old news' to reach the NEK? EMS entered bankruptcy back in June, with numerous stores closing as a result, but others remaining open. While since that time the surviving stores have primarily featured steep discount 'warehouse clearance' sales, continuing to the present, none are being advertised as 'going out of business sales'. My understanding is that in July, as part of the bankruptcy proceedings, EMS was purchased by a British outdoor gear conglomerate, which announced it's intention to keep the chain operational. Of course, they often say such things....!!!!! As of today our local branch is still open and functioning, while the employees claim not to have any information about future prospects. So, I'm interested in hearing if you have any further insight. Not the best stores, but better than the 'nothing' we'd have locally, and for a considerable distance beyond, were they to close.

only information is what you said and that i found out that the webstore does not exist anymore. Webpage says its being rebuilt but in the modern world we kind of go with whats happening right now when it comes to web sales... 

I’m not a trad guy but the one near me has some crazy good deals on cams and nuts currently- I think like 60% off

1. https://thedaily.outdoorretailer.com/news/brands-and-retailers/mountain-warehouse-founder-mark-neale-aims-to-bring-eastern-mountain-sports-back-to-its-former-glory/

I have been to a couple of EMS stores this month and got great deals. Employees seem positive it’s all going to work out. 

Some background - I still pull a shift at one of the EMS stores that was purchased. Bankruptcy was not a surprise when it happened. It had been purchased a little over two years ago (along with Bobs Stores) by a company in CA with no retail background. Hence the management in CT at that time continued to run both brands - right into the ground.

Mountain Warehouse in the UK purchased the IP and seven stores. They will remain EMS as the CEO of MW always shopped at EMS when he’d got to NYC on business many years ago. MW has a very different business model - mostly all house brand product. Actually decent quality soft goods as I’d actually buy some stuff when doing business in the UK. 

You‘ll see EMS, some MW (mostly kids) amd national brand products in the stores. National brands will take some time.

MW has been around I think since mid 90s. Probably 300 stores worldwide (UK, some EU, NZ, Australia and Canada). They opened up the first Canada store maybe five years ago. There are over 40 now! Along with a couple in NY, MI and one in MA). I think eventually EMS grows again.

Thanks for the update Mark. Very informative. Do you know the 7 stores that were purchased by MW? Do you have any information concerning what will happen to any other currently operating locations ( if there are any) that aren't included in that '7'?

Alan Rubin wrote:

Thanks for the update Mark. Very informative. Do you know the 7 stores that were purchased by MW? Do you have any information concerning what will happen to any other currently operating locations ( if there are any) that aren't included in that '7'?

Saratoga Springs, Lake Placid, Burlington VT, N. Conway NH, Lebanon NH, Portsmouth NH and Hadley MA. All the other stores should have been closed by October 1 by the liquidation company. The new stores were purchased August 30 (or thereabout).

All the remaining stores are in college towns, outdoor centric or kinda tourist towns. 

Thank you. Sounds promising. 

Climbing Weasel wrote:

I’m not a trad guy but the one near me has some crazy good deals on cams and nuts currently- I think like 60% off

Which store? I’m also in mass but  The one closest to me closed for good like a month ago

The guide shop at the gunks appears closed

Devin Emanuel wrote:

Which store? I’m also in mass but  The one closest to me closed for good like a month ago

From the list that Mark posted above, Hadley is the only 'surviving' EMS in MA. Given the locations of the other remaining stores it would be the closest to you from anywhere in MA, except maybe the North Shore, from which Portsmouth would likely be more accessible. Hadley does currently have major discounts on climbing gear, though a diminishing inventory.

Interestingly, Natick/Framingham, now among the closed stores, was the original EMS, back in 1967 (?), though, I believe, in a different building.

yes, Hadley. On that note, should I get into trad? I’ve weirdly placed a ton of pieces and built practice anchors etc and this looks like a great opportunity. I climb sport and do some guiding for school trips. It’s super tempting. 

Alan Rubin wrote:

From the list that Mark posted above, Hadley is the only 'surviving' EMS in MA. Given the locations of the other remaining stores it would be the closest to you from anywhere in MA, except maybe the North Shore, from which Portsmouth would likely be more accessible. Hadley does currently have major discounts on climbing gear, though a diminishing inventory.

Interestingly, Natick/Framingham, now among the closed stores, was the original EMS, back in 1967 (?), though, I believe, in a different building.

Yes that is interesting. I always thought their first retail store was the flagship one on Comm Ave in Boston.

Sad to see it go

Gunkiemike wrote:

Yes that is interesting. I always thought their first retail store was the flagship one on Comm Ave in Boston.

Yeah Comm ave (1030?) is the first one I remember.  I don't know if Climbers Corner in Cambridge had any DNA in the evolution.  I don't actually remember an early one on Natick/Framingham - there was the Mountain Shop in Wellesley which definitely evolved into an EMS.

Climb On wrote:

The guide shop at the gunks appears closed

The EMS climbing (and paddling) schools are done. There was discussion around them but in the end it didn’t make sense as it wasn’t part of the core business opportunity (and who knows if they were profitable).

With that Keith Moon has opened up a guide service in NoCo with some of the other EMS guides. Not sure about the Gunks and hope something works out as the permit for the Gunks is what has the value. I can’t remember who ran that school (though Keith was responsible for all of the climbing schools I’m pretty sure). 

Eric Engberg wrote:

Yeah Comm ave (1030?) is the first one I remember.  I don't know if Climbers Corner in Cambridge had any DNA in the evolution.  I don't actually remember an early one on Natick/Framingham - there was the Mountain Shop in Wellesley which definitely evolved into an EMS.

I’d seen some history somewhere and the Newton Wellesley location was the precursor of what became EMS. Comm Ave was the first branded EMS if I remember correctly.  

Climbing Weasel wrote:

yes, Hadley. On that note, should I get into trad? I’ve weirdly placed a ton of pieces and built practice anchors etc and this looks like a great opportunity. I climb sport and do some guiding for school trips. It’s super tempting. 

Only if you want to grow and expand your climbing experience

I thought Keith Moon played drums.