Onion River Sports owner announces closure

The owner of Onion River Sports says he plans to close the Montpelier business.

In a message on the store's Facebook page Monday, Andrew Brewer said that a steep downturn in business, combined with financial problems at their Vermont-based clothing supplier, Ibex, forced the closure decision. He said the business also had to deal with a multi-year legal battle over the ORS e-commerce sites.

The closure announcement of both Onion River Sports and the ORS-owned Shoe Horn came on Cyber Monday. Brewer says that struggles for the entire outdoor industry are not unique and are triggered by a change in consumer habits.

It was not immediately clear how many jobs will be lost, or when the stores will close. Brewer, who has run the business for 18 of the stores 43-year history, left open the possibility that if someone comes up with a creative solution to keep the store open he is "all ears."