Tariff Trouble: 169‑Year‑Old Orvis Slashes Stores as It Returns to Its Outdoor Roots
An Iconic Outfitter Scales Down Founded in 1856, Orvis is among America’s oldest outdoor retailers – a name synonymous with fly fishing rods, tackle, and rustic New England sporting tradition. Over nearly 170 years, the family-run company grew from a small Vermont tackle shop into a national premium brand with dozens of stores selling not just fishing gear and hunting shotguns, but apparel, home furnishings, dog beds, luggage, and more. By the mid-2010s, Orvis operated around 80 stores and had a thriving catalog business mailing out millions of catalogs annually. But in recent years, the retailer’s footprint and focus have