(SRN NEWS/AP/97.5 GLORY FM) – The operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores across the U.S. and Canada – including Commerce, Dawsonville, Lawrenceville, and Woodstock, is closing all its stores after filing bankruptcy last month. Officials said Monday, the decision to close the stores is the result of them failing to find a buyer.
The decision to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection is blamed on declining sales and a litany of other industry headwinds.
The bankruptcy filing marks the third time in a little over two decades for the storied-but-now-tired brand that began as a Seattle fishing shop, later outfitted the first American to climb Mount Everest and made thousands of newfangled down jackets and sleeping bags for the military during World War II.
Eddie Bauer’s stores outside of the U.S. and Canada are operated by other licensees will stay open, according to a news release.