The operator of hundreds of Eddie Bauer stores in the U.S. and Canada filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday. Eddie Bauer LLC, the company that licenses the Eddie Bauer brand to operate stores in the U.S. and Canada, filed for protection citing declining sales and industry headwinds as factors in its struggles.
In the filing, the company said most stores in the U.S. and Canada will remain open for the time being, but the company will conduct liquidation sales at its stores. The company will also conduct a court-supervised sales process. However, if a buyer cannot be found, the roughly 180 stores remaining will fully wind down.
For now, Eddie Bauer LLC, which is owned by Catalyst Brands, has entered into a restructuring pact with its…