Salt Life to Liquidate Its Retail Stores Amid Bankruptcy

Lifestyle brand Salt Life revealed earlier this week that it plans to close all of its brick-and-mortar stores in a decision which took many by surprise, The New York Post reported.

Hilco Consumer-Retail Group, one of Salt Life’s owners, announced on Tuesday that it plans to close each of the relaxation and adventurewear brand’s 28 stores. Salt Life is currently in the process of liquidating in-store merchandise as well as fixtures and displays. New ownership has stepped in to restructure the company and chart a hopeful path forward focused on e-commerce and wholesale. The announcement comes after Salt Life’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy in June.

Salt Life was founded by “four watermen” in Jacksonville Beach, FL, in 2003. The company produced apparel and accessories in addition to performance gear, sunglasses, and a ubiquitous decal . The brand eventually branched out into a chain of successful restaurants, the Salt Life Food Shack , which are devoted to “tropical-inspired food and drinks” and have three locations across Florida. The ownership and operations of the restaurants will not be impacted by the store closures.

“Salt Life represents a passion for the ocean , the salt air, and most importantly, a way of life,” the website reads , noting that the brand “has captured the attention of many ocean enthusiasts across the world and became one of today’s leading lifestyle brands.”

Salt Life has stores located in Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas. The website currently notes that the brand has “over 20 retail stores with more locations scheduled to open in the next 12 months,” although it’s unclear when that was written.

Salt Life gift cards will be honored until Oct. 20, which means you have just over three weeks to stock up on next summer’s outfits.