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Long Island boaters are starting to imagine something they haven’t had to in decades: a season without West Marine.
The longtime boating retailer is preparing for a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing as it looks to restructure debt and possibly close stores, according to reports from Bloomberg and TheStreet.
For many local boaters, the news hits close to home.
“When you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to order online, it’s the go-to spot for boaters,” said John Audiino of Kings Park, who has been boating for about 10 years.
“I’ve already been there twice, and my boat isn’t even in the water yet this season,” he added. “It’s the easiest for boaters around here, especially the West Islip location; it’s like being a kid in a candy shop.”
Others say they would adapt.
“There’s a bunch of local shops along the South Shore,” said Rich Froehlich of Babylon, who was interviewed outside the West Islip store Monday, saying the closures could be a boon to the small shop owners.
“A lot of boat owners know each other too, so that helps in finding [boating supplies],” he added.
Still, he acknowledged how shopping habits continue to shift.
“There’s always Amazon and everything else that kind of takes over the market,” Froehlich said.
West Marine has a limited footprint on Long Island, with just a handful of locations serving Nassau (1) and Suffolk (4) counties, making each store an important resource for seasonal and last-minute needs.
Local locations include Port Washington, West Islip, Patchogue, Huntington and Riverhead, according to the West Marine store locator.
A potential Chapter 11 filing would not necessarily mean the company is going out of business. Instead, it could allow West Marine to restructure its finances while continuing operations, though store closures are often part of that process.
The company operates about 240 stores nationwide.
— with Nick Esposito
Top: The West Marine in West Islip appears to be one of just five Long Island locations. (Credit: GLI/Mike White)
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