The Waterfront: The Fight for West Marine is Bigger Than Buffalo

The fight over West Marine in Buffalo is portrayed as larger than the city itself, as the local boating-supply landscape shifts amid store closures. The article says Obersheimer Sailor Supply on Niagara Street closed after its owner sold the building, and it warns that West Marine on the same street may be next. It cites Fast Company reporting that West Marine filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May to restructure, announcing closures of 59 of its 200 stores, though Buffalo was not initially listed. According to the piece, 32 additional stores have since been added to the closure list. It argues Buffalo could be hit harder because the only West Marine located “on the water” is there, serving boaters who can dock and access supplies. The article also says West Marine supports regional waterways including the Niagara River and Lakes Erie and Ontario, plus the 6,000-mile Great Loop.