Bi-Mart is hitting pause on one of its side projects.
The employee-owned retailer announced it will close all Cascade Farm and Outdoor stores this spring, shifting its focus back to expanding Bi-Mart locations across the Northwest.
The decision affects five Cascade stores, a chain that first launched in Walla Walla, Washington in 2014 and most recently opened a location in Springfield in 2024. While the concept didn’t last long, Bi-Mart says the move is about tightening its focus and strengthening the core business.
Company president Todd Watson acknowledged the closures won’t be easy, especially for employees and loyal shoppers, but said the long-term health of the company drove the decision.
“As an employee-owned company, our responsibility to our members and each other led us to this difficult choice,” Watson said, adding that the goal is to make sure Bi-Mart continues to grow.
The good news for workers: Cascade employees will be offered jobs at other Bi-Mart stores where possible. Shoppers can also expect inventory markdowns and clearance sales as the stores wind down.
There’s also a bit of a silver lining for some communities. The Hood River Cascade location will be converted into a Bi-Mart this spring, and a brand-new Bi-Mart store is planned for Seaside later this year.
Bi-Mart says it remains committed to serving Northwest communities and keeping prices affordable — just with a sharper focus on the brand that built its loyal following in the first place.
