It’s human nature to recognize the value of something only after it’s lost. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, people realized just how important travel truly is.
The travel industry has since recovered from its worst crisis, with 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals globally in 2024. Despite economic and geopolitical challenges, most destinations in that year saw more tourists, compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to UN Tourism.
One sector that benefited from the pandemic was the recreational vehicle (RV) market. Travel trailer sales have seen a significant boost during the pandemic, with Bloomberg even calling them “Covid campers” due to their sudden rise in popularity.
After the first wave of the pandemic, a lot of Americans were desperate to travel but were scared. The safest option for many of them was a good old camper.
However, just as the RV market flourished, Camping World Holdings, Inc. (CWH) now faces a growing controversy over a massive American flag at one of its locations —one that could impact its operations and financial outlook.
Camping world unexpectedly shuts down store amid flag controversy.
Image source: Camping World
Camping World CEO’s childhood dream fuels flag controversy
One of the nation’s largest retailers of RVs, RV accessories, and RV-related services, Camping World has been operating since 1966. It went public in 2016, raising $251 million.
Currently, the company has a market cap of $849.06 million, and year-to-date, its shares have dropped 35.53% to $13.59 per share.
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It started with a single store in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to become a large RV dealer with more than 130 SuperCenters nationwide and a full-service call center. Besides RV parts and accessories, Camping World offers a full selection of new and used RVs.
In October 2024, Camping World hung a huge American flag that sparked the controversy. The flag was placed at the company’s location on the corner of Evans Street and Red Banks Road in Greenville, North Carolina.
Councilmembers said the flag is close to the size of a basketball court at 3,200 square feet and flies on a 130-foot-tall pole, almost double the size of the current regulations.
Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis said the suit should be pointed at him, not the company, as he was the one putting the flags everywhere. It had been his dream since he was a young child.
Born in Lebanon, Lemonis was adopted by a Florida family and grew up around their car dealership, where the Stars and Stripes proudly flew. He promised to fly a bigger flag in his business. So, he did.
Now, he refuses to take it down, even at the cost of jail time.
“Not when they sue, not when I lose, not if they take me to jail, the flag is not coming down,” Lemonis said in March, according to WITN.
The Greenville City Council voted 4-2 in March to hire outside legal counsel to file a lawsuit against Lemonis and Camping World.
This is not the only dispute over a huge American flag. Sevierville, Tennessee, has also filed a lawsuit demanding removal of a large flagpole, arguing it violates the city’s zoning ordinance.
Unexpected closure tied to flag controversy
On April 22, during Henry Hinton’s Talk of the Town program, Lemonis suggested that the council is not familiar with the state law.
“They [the council] should probably do a little research on the statutes in the state of North Carolina,” Lemonis said, reported WITN.
The feud, apparently, made a notable impact on the company’s business in Greenville, as Lemonis revealed he had to close one of the two Camping World locations there.
“We think the ordinance is wrong,” said Lemonis. “I think it’s also wrong [that] council members have been working very actively to disparage my business, and on Friday, I had to consolidate modification of two dealerships in town.”
