With Eastbay Closing Its Doors, What’s Gonna Happen Next?

We know, we know, it’s already 2023. But we still have some loose threads that we wanna tie up before letting go… honest. And well, saying goodbye to 2022 with the news of Eastbay closing was kinda weird. So we’re gonna check out what went down, and what will happen next! And in case you wanna read more interesting news, you can check out the Supreme Shopify switch. Yep, pretty big year for the industry!

What’s Eastbay?

Not everyone was there to witness the beginning of Eastbay, so here’s the story! So back in 1980, two friends and athletes were not impressed with the choices of running shoes in their hometown Wausau, Wisconsin. The pair wanted to make good running shoes accessible to small-town athletes without having to travel long distances. And slowly but surely, the company grew.

From its specialty in running shoes to expanding to include more sports, Eastbay started leaving its mark. However, local brands ultimately need some help for that extra push. This is why, in 1997, Eastbay joined the Footlocker family! From then on, the only way is up, until 2022 when we heard the news about Eastbay closing. So what happened?

Why Is Eastbay Closing?

After nearly 43 years of operation, Eastbay bid us farewell on their FAQ page with the following message: We’re saying goodbye to Eastbay soon. We encourage you to shop at champssports.com to find great deals for your athletic shoes, clothing, and more.

Now, according to the parent company, Footlocker, the brand is closing down to “optimize distribution to serve customers better”. But really, everyone should’ve seen that coming. Back in the day, pre-SNKRS app and online stores, everyone waited for the Eastbay catalog. But post-2010, the industry was going digital, including release news. So the catalog and the store drop wait became old news. Although the company went digital too, it wasn’t enough, especially since it lost its “edge”.

Oh, and let’s not forget that sneaker brands are dropping their production rate. Add to it the Yeezy breakup and Nike’s DTC strategy, and you put retailers like Footlocker in a pickle. It’s hard enough with fewer items to sell, so it makes sense for some retailers to close.

How Will Eastbay Closing Down Affect People?

It’s worth mentioning that with Eastbay closing, 200+ employees will lose their jobs. 160 will leave on January 30, 2023, and another 50 will stay until the closure is final on April 30. It’s sad news because Eastbay provided a lot of jobs for locals. But well, in the sneaker industry, you gotta keep up to survive. Finally, the closure of Eastbay marks the end of an era that so many grew up in. So if you have your old catalogs, hold on to them as memorabilia!