Overview
- Reports from WWD and Business Insider say a Catalyst Brands entity that runs Eddie Bauer stores is prepping a Chapter 11 filing, though the companies have not confirmed the plan.
- Roughly 180 to 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada are at risk, with local outlets noting liquidation sales, abrupt closures, and the removal of the online store‑locator.
- Authentic Brands Group transferred North American e-commerce, wholesale, design, and product development to Outdoor 5 in January, insulating those operations from the store filing.
- Sources say several parties are exploring bids for parts of the store fleet in a court sale, which would require licensing the brand from Authentic Brands Group.
- The potential filing would not affect about 20 stores in Japan, and follows Eddie Bauer’s previous Chapter 11 cases in 2003 and 2009; Catalyst Brands was formed by Simon Property Group, Brookfield, Authentic Brands Group, and Shein.