The operator of Eddie Bauer has filed for bankruptcy for the third time, and after a failed auction, it will close approximately 174 stores: 150 in the United States and 24 in Canada.
Seattle, WA
As the bankruptcy process unfolds, the retail chain will close all of its stores in California.
Eddie Bauer was founded in Seattle in 1920 and built a strong reputation for its outdoor gear and clothing, including down jackets and equipment used by military and expedition teams.
It had around 180 stores in the United States and Canada when its operator filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. This is the third bankruptcy filing since the company’s founding for entities related to Eddie Bauer; its first bankruptcy was in 2009 and the second in 2003.
Eddie Bauer LLC, the company that operates the stores, at its peak in the early 2000s, operated nearly 600 stores, but was unable to find a qualified bidder, according to recently filed bankruptcy court documents. The operator had filed for bankruptcy in February, but at that time, there was a possibility that the stores could remain open under new management if a buyer was found.
The bankruptcy does not affect Eddie Bauer’s manufacturing, wholesale, or e-commerce operations, nor its retail business outside the United States and Canada. Japan is home to several Eddie Bauer stores.
Customers with gift cards or loyalty points are advised to redeem them soon, as the company continues its liquidation process and prepares to exit brick-and-mortar retail.
Liquidation sales are already underway at many locations, and most stores are expected to close by the end of April as part of the company’s process of winding down its physical retail business.
The company has not announced any plans to reopen stores under new management, although the Eddie Bauer brand is expected to continue operating through digital and licensing channels.
