When you live in a rural area, a single store closing hits you hard because you already have fewer options.
In some cases, a single closing of a major business, such as a grocery store or discount retailer, can force residents to travel great distances or rely on online retailers for some purchases.
On a personal level, it affected my family when the Market Basket supermarket closed near our New Hampshire vacation home. This left the community without a true grocery store for years, forcing people to drive nearly half an hour to get basic goods, or pay more for them at local specialty stores.
The same thing happened when K-Mart closed in Key West. That shutdown, one of the chain’s last, robbed the remote area of its only department store, forcing residents to drive four to five hours before hitting a Walmart or Target.
Residents of the Pacific Northwest are now facing similar challenges, according to local reports.
In the markets it serves, Cascade Farms & Outdoors, which is closing all of its stores, will leave a similar hole for consumers.
A competitor to Tractor Supply, Cascade Farms serves farmers and rural communities. It’s kind of an everything-you-might-need general store model. The chain offers groceries, clothing, shoes, sporting goods, outdoor gear, hardware, and various agricultural supplies.
“Cascade Farm & Outdoors is built on the best Northwest traditions you’ve come to know and trust. As the newest member of the Bi-Mart family, Cascade Farm & Outdoors is committed to quality and value in our stores. Our goal is to offer a helping hand to our region’s hardworking farmers, ranchers and homeowners.
Bi-Mart has decided to close the entire chain in the spring and has started selling merchandise in its stores.
Cascade Farm and Outdoors will be closed. Sutterstock” loading=”eager” height=”540″ width=”960″ class=”yf-lglytj loader”/>
Cascade Farm and Outdoors will be closed. Shutterstock ·Shutterstock
The company explained the closure in a media release shared with KCBY 11.
“While the divestiture of our Cascade stores was successful, we did not have the volume and momentum to make a significant contribution moving forward. As always necessary in business, our goal is to make the best decisions we can to support the success of Bi-Mart, our employee-owners, and our members,” it offered.
More retail:
B-Mart intends to offer Cascade Farm employee positions in other stores when geographically feasible.
“As an employee-owned company, our responsibility to our members and to each other led us to make the difficult decision to close our Cascade stores to ensure Bi-Mart continues to grow. We feel the strength of our core business is the most important factor in our continued growth and success in the Northwest,” said President Todd Watson.
The company has started offering clearance deals in its stores. All in-store sales are final, and no returns will be accepted. Cascade Farms & Outdoors has not set an official closing date, saying only “this spring” in its statement and on the brand’s website.
Christina Brant, who co-authored two studies on the impact of business closures on rural communities, shared the heavy costs of such closures on Penn State University’s website.
“While some people may be able to travel to another city to access services, this is not possible for everyone, so these closures can perpetuate inequality between residents,” Brant said.
Nationwide, approx 53.6 million Americans (17.4% of the population) than live in low-income census tracts 10 miles from the nearest supermarket or large grocery storeHighlighting the challenges rural communities face when local retail options close, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
Launched by Bi-Mart in 2014: Cascade Farms & Outdoors opened its first store in 2012 Walla Walla, Washington in 2014 As a new division of Bi-mart The retail family focuses on farms, ranches and the outdoor lifestyle, according to the company’s website.
Part of the Bi-Mart family: The brand operates under the umbrella of Bi-Mart but with a distinct retail concept targeting rural and suburban customers without the need for membership to shop, reported the Eugene Register Guard.
A total of five stores by mid-2020: The concept grew Five locations Bi-Mart, which spans the Washington and Oregon markets, has explored this niche retail format, Oregon Life reported.
Product Offer: Carried a wide range of business including shops Farm and ranch supplies, pet food and supplies, hardware, outdoor gear, and clothing For farmers, ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts, according to the company.
Decision to close 2026: in January 2026Bi-Mart announced that all Cascade Farm and Outdoor stores will be Close this spring Oregon Life was added, as the company refocused on its core Bi-Mart retail operations in the Pacific Northwest.
Although the Cascade Farms and Outdoors chain will close, Bi-Mart has growth plans.
“While we are closing our Cascade Farm and Outdoor stores, we will move forward with plans to convert the Hood River Cascade store into a bi-mart this spring,” the company said. “The By-Mart employee-owners will work hard to make this transition as smooth as possible and look forward to serving the Hood River community.”
B-Mart, which uses a Costco-style subscription model, plans to open in Seattle later this year.
Related: Costco has a shopping service that many members don’t know about
This story was originally published by TheStreet on January 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a preferred source by clicking here.
