MN Store Closures Loom As Iconic Clothing Brand Operator Expected To File For Bankruptcy

An impending bankruptcy filing could lead to the closure of about 200 Eddie Bauer stores in North America, including locations in Minnesota, multiple business publications reported, citing sources.

Catalyst Brands owns Eddie Bauer's store operations under license from Authentic Brands Group, which is the brand’s owner, according to Women’s Wear Daily, which noted a Chapter 11 filing would not affect e-commerce and wholesale in the U.S. and Canada.

Eddie Bauer was expected this week to begin moving those non-store operations from Catalyst to Outdoor 5, with the bankruptcy filing anticipated to happen afterward, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

However, sources told Fast Company multiple outside parties are interested in buying at least some of the fleet of stores.

Catalyst did not comment on the possible bankruptcy to Women’s Wear Daily or Fast Company.

There are nine Eddie Bauer stores across Minnesota, according to the brand’s website.

Eddie Bauer was founded by a man of the same name in 1920 as a sports shop in downtown Seattle, according to the store’s blog. Among Bauer’s accomplishments were creating and patenting the first down-insulated jacket in the U.S.