Nearly 200 Eddie Bauer Stores Across US and Canada Expected to Close

Liquidation sales underway as operating entity fails to find buyer during bankruptcy restructuring

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:20pm

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Nearly 200 Eddie Bauer stores across the US and Canada are expected to close after the operating entity behind the stores failed to find a buyer during its Chapter 11 restructuring. Liquidation sales are underway at the US and Canadian stores, with the store-closing sales projected to wrap up before April 30.

Why it matters

The closure of nearly 200 Eddie Bauer stores represents the end of an iconic outdoor apparel brand that has been in business for over a century. This reflects the broader challenges facing traditional retail as consumer shopping habits shift towards e-commerce. The liquidation also highlights the difficulties some brands face in finding buyers during bankruptcy proceedings.

The details

Eddie Bauer LLC, an entity of retail holding company Catalyst Brands that licenses the rights to operate Eddie Bauer stores across North America, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month amid mounting debt and falling sales. A planned auction for all or part of the North American store operating business was canceled after the company failed to receive any qualified bids. The stores, which span 40 US states and six Canadian provinces and employ roughly 2,200 people, will now undergo liquidation sales expected to wrap up by the end of April.

  • Liquidation sales at the US and Canadian Eddie Bauer stores are underway.
  • The store-closing sales are projected to wrap up before April 30, 2026.

The players

Eddie Bauer LLC

An entity of retail holding company Catalyst Brands that licenses the rights to operate Eddie Bauer stores across North America.

Catalyst Brands

The retail holding company that owns the Eddie Bauer brand and operates its North American stores.

RCS Real Estate Advisors

The retail real-estate advisory firm that is actively marketing about 174 Eddie Bauer store leases totaling more than 1 million square feet.

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What they’re saying

“This portfolio represents a rare opportunity to secure legacy retail locations in established centers nationwide.”

— Ivan Friedman, President and CEO of RCS Real Estate Advisors

What’s next

The store-closing sales at Eddie Bauer's US and Canadian locations are expected to be completed by the end of April 2026.

The takeaway

The closure of nearly 200 Eddie Bauer stores across North America marks the end of an iconic outdoor apparel brand that has struggled to adapt to the changing retail landscape. This development highlights the broader challenges facing traditional brick-and-mortar retailers as consumer shopping habits shift towards e-commerce and online sales.