Outdoors Retailer Goes Out of Business After 90-Plus Years

A local outdoors clothing and equipment retailer has closed its doors after 96 years, its owner said.

Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, which had locations in Hadley, Mass., and Swanzey, closed its store in Swanzey on Saturday, owner Brad Borofsky said on Tuesday. After several months of closing-out sales, he and other employees cleaned the store up in recent days and donated items that didn't sell. The Hadley store closed in June. The chain had a Brattleboro store, which closed in 2023.

Sam’s sold outdoors and athletic clothing as well as gear, and it was known for its free popcorn and knowledgeable staff. The Swanzey location used to be an Army surplus store owned by Borofsky’s extended family before it became Sam’s decades ago.

A "for sale" sign outside Sam's Outdoor Outfitters in Swanzey. The store went out of business Saturday after more than 90 years. (Liora Engel / Sentinel Staff)

Borofsky on Tuesday morning said only the popcorn machine and some IT equipment remained in the building at 74 Monadnock Highway (Route 12) in North Swanzey. The machine is for sale on Facebook Marketplace, Borofsky said. He also put the buildings in Hadley and Swanzey on the market.

Borofsky said he'd wanted to keep the Swanzey store open for the employees —18 in all, and all but a few were full-time.

"I'm sorry that I had to take the jobs away from people who were so good," he said.

Sam's Outdoor Outfitters in Swanzey closed its doors Saturday after 96 years in business. (Liora Engel / Sentinel Staff)

He thanked customers for shopping at Sam's over the years.

Borofsky said the closure hadn't sunk in yet because he's been busy winding down the business. The prospect of retirement is a little scary, he said, but he's also looking forward to having free time.

"You never know, maybe I'll do something down the line when things calm down," he added.