UFA Co-operative Ltd., the Calgary, Alberta-based co-op that earlier this week bought 15 Sportsman’s Warehouse stores, including the one in north Bend, said Thursday that it will not accept gift cards at any of its newly acquired stores.

But holders of Sportsman’s Warehouse gift cards should not throw them away.

The manager of the Bend Sportsman’s Warehouse said the store can still order items from other Sportsman’s Warehouse stores that were not included in the UFA purchase, including stores in Medford and the Boise, Idaho, area.

“Chances are, if you find something that you want, we can locate it in the other 29 stores,” said Dave Ferguson, who will continue to manage the Bend store. “I would just encourage people to use them so they are not holding their gift cards.”

Ferguson said the Bend store can place orders for customers for just about any Sportsman’s Warehouse item, with the exception of guns or items that require special hazardous materials shipping, such as ammunition. For just about anything else, the items will be shipped directly to the buyer’s home, Ferguson said.

Gift card holders who choose not to order through the Bend store also can redeem the gift cards through Sportsman’s Warehouse’s Web site, www .sportsmanswarehouse.com, or in its remaining stores.

Natalie Dawes, manager of corporate communications for UFA, said the company understands the inconvenience for customers. But she added that without the purchase, the Bend store might have closed.

“Sportsman’s Warehouse is facing challenging times, and it is closing 23 stores,” Dawes said. “UFA bought those 15 locations; though, if we hadn’t, some of those stores may have closed as well.”

Midvale, Utah-based Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings said Tuesday it was selling 15 stores and liquidating 23 others to reduce bank debt and improve liquidity. It continues to operate 29 stores across the country.

UFA announced the purchase of the 15 Sportsman’s Warehouse stores on Tuesday.

Part of the deal is that UFA can continue to use the Sportsman’s Warehouse name for as long as two years, something Ferguson expects to happen for the foreseeable future.

The Bend store has about 50 employees, all of whom will stay at the Bend location, Ferguson said.

UFA’s purchase, though, has concerned some Sportsman’s Warehouse customers who hold valid gift cards.

Ferguson said he has had several customers come in to the Bend location and complain, and the store will continue to make an effort to help customers redeem those gift cards.

“The real trouble is the separation of (Sportsman’s Warehouse name on the store from the Sportsman’s Warehouse company),” Ferguson said. “I understand the situation (customers) are in. We have employees that have gift cards that are no longer usable in our store.”