The operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores across the U.S. and Canada has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming 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 LLC said ...

Core Viewpoint - Eddie Bauer LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, indicating significant challenges in its retail operations and a restructuring plan to close most of its store fleet [1][3][4] Group 1: Bankruptcy Filing and Store Operations - The company entered a restructuring support agreement with secured lenders and filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for New Jersey [1] - The bankruptcy filing does not affect Eddie Bauer's e-commerce or wholesale operations, nor its approximately 20 stores in Japan [2] - The Chapter 11 filing allows the company to close remaining stores, with liquidation sales already underway at around 40 units whose leases expired at the end of January [3][4] Group 2: Future Prospects and Sales Process - There is potential for another entity to acquire the store operating rights, with several companies expressing interest, pending bankruptcy court approval [4] - Eddie Bauer LLC plans to conduct liquidation sales while pursuing a value-maximizing sale of all or part of its store operations [4] Group 3: Operational Challenges - The CEO of Catalyst Brands noted that Eddie Bauer faced declining sales and supply chain challenges even before the formation of Catalyst, with these issues worsened by inflation and tariff uncertainties [6] - Despite improvements in product development and marketing, the changes were insufficient to address long-standing challenges [6]

Group 1 - The article discusses the financial struggles of a business owner named Carlos, whose janitorial business, despite initial success, is now facing severe financial issues due to unfiled tax returns and unpaid payroll taxes [1][3]. - Carlos has accumulated over $70,000 in credit card debt and owes an additional $30,000 on a commercial line of credit, with total debts exceeding $350,000 [3]. - The business has downsized significantly, with Carlos laying off all employees and servicing only four or five locations himself, resulting in a monthly revenue of approximately $9,777 against expenses of about $7,877 [4]. Group 2 - Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey emphasizes that bankruptcy does not eliminate obligations related to payroll taxes and IRS debts, which remain regardless of filing status [5]. - Ramsey warns about the serious consequences of failing to file tax returns, noting that 2,561 individuals were jailed last year for this reason, and advises Carlos to consult a tax professional to address his tax issues [6][7]. - The IRS typically requires the most recent three years of tax filings, and Ramsey suggests prioritizing cash flow towards unpaid payroll taxes before addressing unsecured debts [7].

Core Insights - The furniture industry is experiencing a downturn due to economic concerns, leading consumers to reduce discretionary spending [1][2] - Country Willow, a New York-area furniture retailer, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and will be liquidated [3][4] Company Overview - Country Willow Ltd. operates as a home furnishings retailer, also known as Willow Furniture & Design, offering furniture, home décor, and interior design services [7] - The company is located in Bedford Hills, New York, and has a primary showroom [7] Bankruptcy Details - The Chapter 7 bankruptcy was filed on February 2, 2026, in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York [7] - Estimated assets are between $1 million to $10 million, while estimated liabilities range from $10 million to $50 million [7] - The number of creditors listed is between 50 to 99, and the company will be liquidated, with remaining assets sold by a trustee to pay creditors [7] Liquidation Process - Planned Furniture Promotions is expected to assist in handling the company's dissolution and liquidation process [5][7] - The company had previously rebranded from Country Willow to Willow Furniture & Design, reflecting a broader range of styles [6]

Frozen dessert fast-food chains are among the favorite shops that consumers enjoy visiting, but financial distress in some cases leads to bankruptcies and closings that disappoint customers. The ice cream shop industry reported 0.9% growth in 2025, according to data from IBISWorld, but still faces economic issues. "Despite the general increase in appetite for ice cream, significant challenges must be navigated," IBISWorld said in the report. Rising milk costs cut into ice cream profits Among the econo ...

For a while, Carlos was winning. The San Francisco business owner built a janitorial business and became a millionaire within a couple years. Then his financial life “spiraled out of control.” (1) By the time he called into The Ramsey Show, 38-year-old Carlos was facing approximately $350,000 in debt. This included more than $70,000 in credit cards, an SBA loan and a $30,000 commercial line of credit. Must Read But the most alarming part of his story was that he hadn’t filed taxes for 2017 and 2018 and ...

A hot-shot hedge fund manager admitted last month that the once-wealthy entrepreneur has just $240,000 left in assets, following a cascade of financial setbacks, including defaulting on a mortgage placed on his family’s $13 million home, being sued by his mother and leading a failed multibillion-dollar casino takeover. Jason Ader, a former Wall Street activist investor known for unseating Marissa Mayer as CEO of Yahoo in 2017, disclosed $1,700 in cash, a Tesla Cybertruck, a Glock G26, an Apple Watch valued ...

By Nicholas P. Brown NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Bankrupt retailer Saks Global is ending its "Saks on Amazon" partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon.com, a source ​with direct knowledge of the decision said on Friday. The partnership was already ‌in dire straits when Saks filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, but the retailer had yet to ‌say outright it was exercising its right under Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reject the contract. On Friday, a source said Saks will wind down its Saks on Amazon sto ...

Core Viewpoint - Twin Hospitality Group, the parent company of Twin Peaks, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, following a trend in the casual dining sector where similar establishments like Hooters have also faced financial difficulties [1][3]. Group 1: Bankruptcy Filing - Twin Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on January 26, 2025, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas [1]. - The bankruptcy filing comes shortly after Fat Brands, which owns Twin Hospitality Group, began converting Smokey Bones locations into Twin Peaks [2]. - The first hearing for the bankruptcy filing is scheduled for January 28, 2025 [3]. Group 2: Company Operations - Twin Peaks operates 114 locations across the United States and Mexico and is expected to remain open during the bankruptcy process [4]. - The company has faced challenging market conditions that have hindered its ability to restructure debt, despite the brand's strength [5]. Group 3: Industry Context - Hooters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025, addressing $376 million in debt, and closed over 30 locations in June 2025 [3]. - The casual dining sector is experiencing significant challenges, as evidenced by the recent bankruptcies and closures of multiple restaurant chains [5].

Core Insights - FAT Brands has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, aiming to reject leases for several closed company-owned restaurants, including locations for Johnny Rockets, Smokey Bones, and Yalla Mediterranean [1][4] - The company operates 18 restaurant chains with over 2,200 locations globally, primarily franchised, and directly owns approximately 150 locations [2] - CEO Andy Wiederhorn expressed confidence in the company's resilience and long-term growth potential, stating that the bankruptcy process will help strengthen its capital structure [3] Company Operations - FAT Brands has announced the closure of 14 Smokey Bones locations, 2 Johnny Rockets, and 5 Yalla Mediterranean locations, with the latter two only in California [4] - The company expects its restaurants to continue operating normally during the bankruptcy process [4] Location Details - Specific closures include locations in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia [6][9][12]