Elkhart Camping World Gone

[ols1932]

Yesterday when we arrived in Elkhart, IN we went to Hart City RV on Hwy 19 to get some paraphenalia from Camping World. Oh woe is me! When we arrived there we found that Camping World had closed their store eight weeks ago and shipped all their stuff to their warehouse staging are (Bowling Green, KY?). Whe we asked the Hart City RV people about it they said that Camping World had said that their was not enough business to keep the store open but since they closed, at least 1500 people had come in to get something. One happy factor though; Hart City RV is putting in a Camper's World Discount store (though they may have to change the name to avoid any lawsuits.

Just thought I'd pass this on for those who are like me and plan on going there every time we're in Elkhart.

Orv

[Glenn and Lorraine]

YEP it's closed. We all found that out when we were up for the rally. Can't imagine a Camping World store in the RV Capitol that couldn't do enough business. Everytime we ever went to that store it sure seemed busy to me. Rarely did you not have a line at check out. I think there were other factors involved.

[adelmoll]

We were told by someone that I consider reliable that Hart had sold to new owners awhile back and the new owners made the deal with Camping World to come in with them. Then the new owners ran the business down and the Original Hart owners came back.. I don't know the details on that but when they came back they didn't approve of the terms that Camping World had so they left. I don't know this for a fact but it made since to me since all the changes occurred at the same time.

Helen

[Bill and Ann]

OH NO!!! Guess I am just going to have to look at new RV's next week while my coach is getting serviced. Ann will want to see a few Amish stores too. Too bad it closed, but the good thing is I will save some money.

[sreigle]

We found the same thing. I have doubts about the lack of business comment. That store was always busy and usually more so than most other Camping Worlds we've been in. For awhile, Hart City Rv's sign was taken down and CW ran it with a different name. And now Hart City is back? I have to think this was more a squabble between CW and Hart City and perhaps had some legal questions involved. Just an opinion, no facts known.

on edit, thinking about this. CW has been buying out rv dealers and putting in a store along with the rv dealer. I think the one in Elkhart was owned separately from Hart City. Since the Hart City sign came down for awhile and a different company name went up, I have to think CW wanted to buy out Hart City and they would have nothing to do with it and closed the store. Again, just conjecture. It doesn't really matter, the store is gone. And Hart City apparently thinks their new Camper's World will draw enough business to stay solvent.

[ols1932]

Traveling down I65 toward Kentucky we discovered that the Camping World store that used to be at exit 1 in Indiana is now closed also. They moved everything to Bowling Green, KY. Every time I've been in that store they were always busy too, so they can't convince me that they didn't have enough business to make it go. I think it's merely a corporate cut back--maybe to get rid of some employees.

Orv