If you love spending time in the outdoors, odds are you know Campmor. Founded in 1978, Campmor made its name as one of America’s go-to retailers for camping, hiking, and backpacking gear. With a deeply loyal following and a trademark mail-order catalog, Campmor became a household name for explorers across generations. That’s why, if you’ve heard rumors lately that Campmor is going out of business, you might be worried—or at least confused.
Here’s the bottom line: Campmor is not currently going out of business. They’re open for business online, and their Paramus, NJ retail store still welcomes customers—just with a new look and reduced hours. Let’s break down the facts, explain the confusion, and help you sort rumor from reality. You’ll also learn how to check on Campmor’s status yourself if you ever need to.
Evidence That Campmor Is Still in Business
You can tell a company is still going strong if you see clear signs of activity across several channels. Let’s run through Campmor’s status using public and direct sources.
Official Website and Store Information
One of the most reliable signals that a business is running is an up-to-date website and contact info. Go to Campmor’s website, and right up front, you’ll find a “Company & Retail Store Information” page. Here, Campmor lists its in-person location at 810 Route 17 North, Paramus, NJ 07652. They also share their current “Limited In-Store Shopping Hours,” usually Monday through Saturday, along with a working phone number dedicated to the retail location.
You can still shop for outdoor gear both online and in-store, although some items in the store differ from the web selection. This means Campmor hasn’t faded away; it has simply leaned into a more modern model that emphasizes web sales while still providing a brick-and-mortar experience.
Business Credentials and Corporate Listings
It’s important to look beyond just a website. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) shows Campmor Inc. with a headquarters in Mahwah, NJ, and indicates “Years in Business: 44.” You’ll find active executive contact information as well. BBB keeps up with business closures and provides warnings if a company is winding down or ignoring customer disputes. Seeing Campmor’s profile active and current confirms they’re continuing operations.
Customer Feedback, Reviews, and Ongoing Activity
Real customers offer first-hand evidence. On Trustpilot, Campmor is described as an outdoor retailer with up-to-date contact info, including store address, phone lines, email support, and a running website. The star rating (2.2 out of 5) signals that some buyers have issues—often around shipping or order satisfaction—but low ratings reflect service hiccups, not closure.
Over on Sitejabber, you’ll see Campmor described as a “family owned outdoor retailer” that has helped “outfit 3 generations of explorers and adventurers. Why stop now?” That rhetorical question is a hint: the company wants you to know they’re still in the game.
Active Social Media and Community Presence
Head over to Campmor’s X (Twitter) profile. The company actively posts, describes itself as a family-owned outdoor retailer since 1978, and again asks, “Why stop now?” This simple branding move lets you know they’re not backing away from outdoor retail or closing their doors.
Staying present on social media is a sign of commitment in today’s digital shopping landscape. Regular updates show they’re focused on marketing, customer communication, and event promotions. For any small business, this is a reliable indicator of ongoing daily operations.
Recent Media Coverage Confirms Activity
It’s always smart to scan media coverage. A feature in the Small Business Comeback Tour documented how Campmor’s Paramus location is “gearing up for its busy spring season.” CEO Daniel Jarashow shared insights on how Campmor adapted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Jarashow, the business now earns about “50/50 between the Paramus store and its e-commerce channel.”
When a CEO gives direct interviews and talks about business strategy, it signals that the company is not shutting down. Media coverage usually picks up rumors about impending closures, so the absence of such reporting is telling.
Why Some People Think Campmor Is Going Out of Business
Seeing all this evidence, it’s natural to ask: Why do so many customers or employees speculate about closure or think the end is near?
It helps to understand the impact of business transformation and how ordinary changes, like downsizing or modernizing, can spark rumors. Here’s what’s fueling the confusion.
The Physical Store Has Changed a Lot
Talk to long-time Campmor shoppers, and they’ll mention how different the Paramus store looks today. A recent Yelp review described the retail space as “completely gutted and trimmed down and scaled back big time,” even calling it a “ghost town.” The review noted that about a third of the store is now marked “employees only.”
When a retail store shrinks its footprint or cuts out sections of sales floor, customers see fewer people and fewer products. Some say it “almost seemed like they were having a going out of business sale.” This impression, while understandable, doesn’t mean business is ending—it just means things look different than before.
Limited In-Store Shopping Hours
The store hours posted by Campmor are more restricted than what most might expect. They typically open around 10:00 am and close by 5:00 pm, with only one or two late evenings. Limited hours can signal cost-cutting, lower foot traffic, or an effort to match staffing with actual demand. To some, restricted hours suggest trouble behind the scenes, but for many retailers, it’s a smart way to withstand industry changes.
The End of the Classic Campmor Catalog
For decades, Campmor’s thick mail-order catalog was a symbol of the brand. Flipping through pages of gear, comparing prices, and placing orders by mail or phone was the adventure gear version of shopping at Sears. That world faded as online shopping took over. Campmor stopped printing and shipping those catalogs, focusing instead on web-based sales channels.
Some loyal customers associate the end of the catalog with the end of the company itself. However, active Reddit threads and customer forums confirm that while the catalogs are gone, the business is still running—just in a different form.
Customer Perception: A Focus on Online Sales and Less Local Activity
If you only drive past the Paramus store, or talk to retirees who loved getting catalogs, you might believe that Campmor has lost its way. Comments on outdoor gear forums bemoan that Campmor is now just a “hollow shell of itself,” no longer the retail giant it once was. Some users mistakenly claim that “they only have their online store now,” confusing a shift to online-first operations with actual closure.
The truth is that Campmor has made a deliberate choice to modernize. This is a classic approach for companies that survive decades: they adapt to match the ways their customers shop, even if it means fewer brick-and-mortar sales.
What This Means for Campmor (and for You)
What’s the lesson? Campmor is not out of business. Instead, it’s an active family-owned retailer that has shifted gears from big store floors and mail catalogs to web sales and leaner retail. Today’s Campmor serves a significant customer base through two channels:
– A retail store in Paramus, NJ (smaller, with limited hours and selection)
– A robust online e-commerce presence, delivering gear to all 50 states
About half of Campmor’s revenue now comes from that e-commerce channel, with the other half from its physical shop. The company, like many others in retail, has cut costs and refocused its business model to thrive in a digital era. This means they’re prioritizing web orders—but still stay connected to local customers through their dedicated store.
If you run a small business or manage an established brand, pay attention to Campmor’s example. Carefully cutting back on costly print marketing or underused retail space can preserve what matters most: delivering the right products and great service to loyal customers.
How to Confirm a Business’s Status for Yourself
When you hear rumors about business closures, you shouldn’t just accept them at face value. It’s important to verify a company’s status—especially if you’re planning a big order, looking for gear, or want to check return and warranty policies. Here’s how you can confirm Campmor’s (or any company’s) operating status:
- Visit the official website and check for updated store hours, contact numbers, and return policy info.
- Call the listed retail store or customer service number—if a business is winding down, phone lines usually change or stop working.
- Search the BBB, Trustpilot, or similar review sites for recent reviews and responses to customer questions.
- Scan the company’s social media for signs of active posts, promotions, and community engagement.
- Look for recent news articles or press releases featuring executive statements or new business initiatives.
If you need up-to-the-minute business news, tools like Business Weeklies can help. Sites like these provide curated updates on retail shifts, executive changes, and economic trends that impact businesses large and small.
Wrapping Up: Campmor Is Still Charting Its Path
The rumors about Campmor closing are understandable but off base. The store many grew up with—the one with aisles of sleeping bags and towers of catalogs—has changed shape. These days, Campmor delivers its adventure gear online, supports shoppers who come to its smaller Paramus store, and connects with customers on digital platforms.
For business owners, this is a good reminder: Staying adaptable and meeting your audience where they shop is not a sign of failure. It’s the smart way forward. Keep your eyes on customer needs, shift resources where you see growth, and don’t hesitate to confirm the facts if confusion arises.
If you’re ever uncertain about whether a store or company is still open, use direct contact, trusted review sites, and business news platforms. That way, you can make safe, informed choices—whether you’re gearing up for your next big hike or planning your next business move.
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