Every so often, you’ll see rumors flying around online about big retailers closing their doors. Lately, that chatter has hit MidwayUSA, one of the best-known retailers in the shooting, hunting, and outdoor category. A quick search turns up forum threads or social comments asking, “Is MidwayUSA going out of business?” It’s easy for that kind of thing to catch on, especially with the way news—and gossip—spreads on social media.
But what’s really going on with MidwayUSA right now? Are the rumors true, or is this just another case of people jumping to conclusions? Here’s a clear look at where things stand.
Financial Numbers: What the Books Actually Show
Let’s start with the part everyone cares about: money. Most companies in trouble leave a trail in their numbers. But if you look at MidwayUSA’s current financials, there’s not much hinting at any pending closure.
MidwayUSA’s primary site, midwayusa.com, pulled in about $386 million in revenue for 2024. That figure is just about flat compared to the previous year—there’s no significant growth, sure, but no sharp drop-off, either. Flat revenue isn’t exactly exciting, but it’s a far cry from collapse.
If you break down the numbers, nearly 85% of those sales came from what’s called the Hobby & Leisure segment. This includes their bread-and-butter—gear for shooting enthusiasts, hunters, reloaders, and general outdoors folks. All of those transactions come from standard, first-party sales. You pick a product on their website, they ship it right from their warehouse.
December is usually a big month for retailers. In December 2025, MidwayUSA saw revenue of $35 million, matching their November performance almost dollar for dollar. Again, it’s flat, but not dropping. For big-box and online stores, flat beats negative growth any day.
The Foundation Side: MidwayUSA Foundation Looks Strong
MidwayUSA isn’t just an e-commerce retailer. Through the MidwayUSA Foundation, it supports youth shooting sports, and that nonprofit’s numbers are healthy, too. In 2024, the Foundation posted $36.2 million in revenue, handled expenses of $16.5 million, and kept total assets at a whopping $360 million.
They’re not swimming in debt, either. As of this year, their liabilities sit at only about $267,000—a tiny sliver compared to assets. For charities, that’s considered a very strong balance sheet. This kind of performance means their programs and scholarships for youth shooting teams are funded and stable.
For anyone who wonders if trouble on the business side is creeping over to the nonprofit side, these numbers should ease concerns.
Expanding, Not Shrinking: MidwayUSA’s Investment in Infrastructure
If you’re looking to sniff out a business that’s closing shop, you wouldn’t expect to see major new buildings going up. But that’s exactly what MidwayUSA just finished in Columbia, Missouri.
They recently completed a new, 64,000-square-foot corporate office building, which they call the Roosevelt Corporate Offices. This is part of their “500-Year Campus,” an initiative that essentially says, “We’re committed to sticking around for generations—not planning to close.” That campus also includes a sprawling, 400,000-square-foot distribution center that’s been shipping products since 2022.
If you’re familiar with the logistics required for fast online order fulfillment, you know that kind of square footage isn’t cheap or easy to fill. No company invests in buildings of this scale unless they’re projecting enough traffic and sales to make it worthwhile.
At last count, MidwayUSA had over 200 employees working at their Columbia, Missouri headquarters. For an independent retailer, that remains a strong headcount, especially when so many other companies have been trimming staff post-pandemic.
Any Signs of Layoffs, Bankruptcy, or Downsizing?
Maybe you’ve seen other retailers quietly shed staff or liquidate their inventory before announcing big closures. With MidwayUSA, there’s none of that happening.
No credible news source or regulatory filing mentions layoffs, executive resignations, bankruptcy warnings, or frantic “Going Out of Business” fire sales. In fact, since 2021, Matt Fleming has served as President and CEO, having been promoted internally after many years at the company. Founder Larry Potterfield is still involved in leadership but has let Fleming guide the operational strategy.
Their online presence is normal—they’re posting on social media, adding new products, and running standard online ads. They haven’t trimmed product categories or added warning messages about inventory levels. Their foundation’s website remains active, and they’re continuing regular youth shooting grants.
Sure, their revenue doesn’t show wild year-over-year growth. But in a slow economy, that kind of stability actually looks good. Not every company is scaling up every quarter—sometimes, steady is perfectly solid.
MidwayUSA’s Story: Four Decades and Counting
MidwayUSA has been around for almost 50 years. Larry Potterfield started the company in 1977 as a small gun shop in Columbia, Missouri back when big-box outdoor chains and e-commerce barely existed for firearms and reloading gear.
The company grew from those humble roots to become a go-to destination for gun enthusiasts, reloaders, hunters, and campers. Over the years, they leaned into mail-order catalogs, then went all-in on the internet. Unlike some rivals who struggled to keep up with Amazon or the changing attitudes toward gun sales, MidwayUSA found a solid niche market and invested in keeping up with technology.
Now, their website lists nearly 200,000 products: everything from ammunition to optics, archery equipment to camping stoves. When customers think of “one-stop shop” in this industry, they’re often talking about MidwayUSA. That’s a tough thing to replace online.
What About Online Shopping and the Customer Experience?
Today, retail is all about website experience. MidwayUSA’s site might not be the fanciest, but it’s fast, functional, and well-stocked. Customers still find a deep inventory, clear product descriptions, straightforward checkout, and fast shipping. The online reviews are about what you’d expect in this category—some people love the deals or ship times, some have issues now and then—but there’s no flood of complaints about disappearing orders, vaporized warranties, or big changes to return policies.
A company limping toward closure often cuts corners on experience. Long shipping times, missing inventory, and “sorry, we’re downsizing” press releases tend to pile up. There’s no evidence of that here.
That’s not to say everything’s perfect. The outdoor and firearms retail market is pretty flat at the moment, and competition from giants like Amazon and Bass Pro is always a challenge. But as of right now, MidwayUSA is holding its own in terms of product choice and fulfillment for its core audience.
Looking Forward — What’s Next?
So, is MidwayUSA going out of business? With new infrastructure, regular revenue, and active leadership, there’s just nothing pointing to that. Growth might be stalled, but that doesn’t mean the ship is sinking—it just means the market is steady, not booming.
MidwayUSA seems to be playing the long game. The “500-Year Campus” is a bold signal that they aren’t going for a quick exit or trying to cash out. They’re doing what a lot of mature companies do—looking for sustainable ways to weather stormy economies without taking wild risks.
There’s also something to be said for companies that don’t make headlines for drama. While some of their competitors in this sector have shuttered retail locations or tried to reinvent themselves as something else, MidwayUSA mostly sticks to what it knows, keeps expenses under control, and continues to serve a loyal customer base.
If you’re thinking about working in the industry, or want to understand how retailers survive flat growth periods, you might find some useful pointers over at Start Business Page. They cover how companies adapt during slow years without panic selling or mass layoffs.
For customers, there shouldn’t be any urgent worries about canceled orders or missing products. MidwayUSA’s business appears steady, even if it lacks explosive growth headlines.
The Bottom Line
Every so often, people wonder if their favorite brands and retailers are quietly slipping away. With MidwayUSA, there’s just no evidence that’s happening. The company’s revenue may be flat, but it’s solid. They’re investing in new facilities, keeping staff employed, and sticking with a product range that loyalists still want.
If anything changes, it’ll show up in credible news sources, bankruptcy filings, or a big announcement—none of which exist right now. Until then, MidwayUSA looks like it’s staying put, and customers and employees can count on business as usual. Sometimes, “no big news” is really the best news in retail.
Also Read:
