West Marine closures, payoffs revealed

West Marine, the largest marine retailer in the USA, filed for bankruptcy on May 17, 2026. Here are some recent updates:

• Court documents show that West Marine is planning to close 59 locations as it works to restructure under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. West Marine’s LinkedIn page shows that it has more than 240 retail locations. For the list of closures, click here.

• During a mandatory hearing involving West Marine’s Chapter 11 restructuring, bankruptcy trustee Linda J. Casey said something that caught the attention of at least one of the more than 170 participants, many of whom West Marine owes money: “The former chief executive officer received a $1.2 million bonus. Can you explain what that bonus was?”

In addition to noting the money paid to former CEO Chuck Rubin, who left West Marine in late 2025, Casey also mentioned a retention bonus of an undisclosed amount that West Marine paid to current CEO Paulee Day on May 1 — just 16 days before the company filed for bankruptcy. – Full report