Popular sporting goods chain with 259 locations to open in iconic state to replace bankrupt home goods brand

A BELOVED sporting goods chain is replacing a bankrupt home goods retailer’s location in an iconic state.

It has around 259 locations across the Midwest and will move farther south for shoppers with the new store.

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It was confirmed in April that Dunham’s Sports would be the sporting goods company to replace a space in Santa Fe Place Mall in New Mexico, where Conn’s HomePlus used to reside, by the end of 2025, per Albuquerque Business First.

Dunham’s Sports operates in 25 states, growing consistently after being founded in Michigan in 1937.

The retailer sells predominantly athletic equipment, along with active and casual footwear, hunting, fishing, and camping gear.

The opening in Santa Fe would be its first in New Mexico.

General Manager of Santa Fe Place Mall, Antonio Chavez, noted that Dunham’s Sports would also purchase an adjoining vacant space.

It will combine to create a 60,000 square-foot Dunham’s Sports, making it one of the largest mall tenants.

“We’re very excited to have Dunham’s Sports in Santa Fe,” Chavez told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“It’s good competition and it helps the mall to keep growing.”

Chavez added that the move would help keep local shoppers in Santa Fe rather than driving to Albuquerque.

No exact timeline for the opening of the Dunham’s Sports location has been confirmed.

The US Sun has contacted Dunham’s Sports for more details.

FINANCIAL WOES

Its replacement of Conn’s HomePlus is a grim reminder for longtime customers after it filed for bankruptcy on July 23, 2024.

The over-130-year-old brand cited consistent sales declines and a drop in consumer discretionary spending in its filing.

Total debt was noted at about $1.9 billion.

While it initially planned to close around 73 locations and attempt to restructure, Conn’s HomePlus later confirmed it would close all its over 170 stores across 15 states.

While some shoppers were saddened at the retailer’s demise, others claimed the writing was on the wall for years.

“Was out of my price range and didn’t have what I was looking for,” a Florida-based consumer wrote in a thread on Facebook.

“Sad to say, this closing isn’t a surprise. I wish their employees luck,” another added.

As a result of Conn’s HomePlus’ 2023 acquisition of WS Badcock, which operates Badcock Home Furniture & More stores, there were an additional 380 closures under that banner.

NOT ALONE

Several prominent, long-standing retailers have filed for bankruptcy in the past year or conducted mass closures.

Big Lots notably filed a few months after Conn’s HomePlus in September, and only recently emerged with over 130 stores left after selling away most or closing them.

Fast fashion retailer Forever 21 also went under at the end of March with its second bankruptcy filing and is expected to shutter all remaining locations.

Joann Fabric and Crafts also submitted for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year and will shutter its remaining stores by the end of May.

Macy’s, while not bankrupt, is also planning about 150 closures in the coming years as it rethinks its business model.

The U.S. Sun also has a complete list of retailers closing stores by May 25.