Outdoor retailer Eddie Bauer, once a Seattle-based household name, has filed for bankruptcy and plans to close all of its North American retail stores, including its Washington locations. According to Business Insider, the company’s Chapter 11 filing will affect nearly 200 stores across the United States and Canada.

While the closures will end Eddie Bauer’s physical retail operations in North America, its e-commerce, wholesale, and international businesses are expected to continue. The company has not publicly listed each store slated for closure, but Washington outlets include locations in University Village, Tacoma Mall, and the Woodinville Plaza. Eddie Bauer previously closed its flagship Bellevue Square store in mid-2025.

The company has faced years of financial difficulty, filing for bankruptcy in 2003 and again in 2009, before being acquired by Golden Gate Capital. In 2021, it was sold to Authentic Brands Group, which also owns other retail names like Brooks Brothers and Reebok. According to The Puget Sound Business Journal, recent layoffs at Eddie Bauer’s headquarters preceded the filing, cutting around ten jobs from marketing and creative divisions.

Eddie Bauer began in Seattle in 1920 and gained fame for introducing the “Skyliner,” the first U.S.-patented down jacket. For decades, the brand symbolized Northwest outdoor living, outfitting local hikers, anglers, and climbers with its gear. As consumer shopping habits shifted online and high-rent retail districts became harder to sustain, the company gradually downsized its storefront network.

As of early February, signs of liquidation had begun appearing in multiple retail centers. The company reportedly held a farewell gathering at its Seattle-area headquarters last week, marking the end of its brick-and-mortar era. Authentic Brands has indicated that Eddie Bauer will continue selling through its digital storefront and partner retailers, potentially preserving its presence in outdoor apparel without physical stores.

At its retail peak, Eddie Bauer operated over 500 stores globally. For many in Washington, its departure closes a century-long chapter for a Northwest institution that helped define the region’s outdoor identity.

Sources: Business Insider; Puget Sound Business Journal; MyNorthwest