Charlotte area shop at risk, as retail operator of Eddie Bauer store faces bankruptcy
The retail operator of Eddie Bauer, the iconic outdoor recreation and clothing retailer, is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Women’s Wear Daily and other news outlets reported Monday. This could lead to closing about 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada, including in the Charlotte area.
The 106-year-old Seattle-based company, known for pioneering the quilted down jacket, has one local location at Concord Mills in Concord.
The fate of the Concord Eddie Bauer outlet store remains unclear. Catalyst Brands is the North America retail operator of Eddie Bauer. Officials with Eddie Bauer owner Authentic Brands Group did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
The outlet store at Charlotte Premium Outlets closed last week, an employee at the Concord store told The Charlotte Observer on Monday. Beauty retailer Ulta expects to open this summer in that spot. Eddie Bauer is no longer listed on Charlotte Premium Outlets website but is still listed on Eddie Bauer’s website.
Authentic Brands did not answer questions about why the store closed.
Eddie Bauer has 212 locations in the U.S., according to the company’s website, including six in North Carolina with the two sites in the Charlotte region.
Charlotte Premium Outlets and Concord Mills are owned by property management group Simon, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Simon also owns SouthPark mall in Charlotte.
Eddie Bauer isn’t alone in its retail struggles.
Over the several years, other big-name stores like JOANN fabric stores, Claire’s, Express and Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy with local store closings.
Behind Eddie Bauer’s money troubles
Eddie Bauer retail stores across the U.S. and Canada continue to operate under a license with Catalyst Brands, according to Authentic Brands. Catalyst owns the licensing rights to distribute Eddie Bauer products at brick-and-mortar stores.
Last month, financial data company Octus reported that Catalyst was weighing a restructuring of real estate and inventory liabilities tied to Eddie Bauer.
Authentic Brands and SPARC Group announced an agreement to acquire Eddie Bauer from PSEB Group in 2021. The purchase was a joint venture between ABG and SPARC Group, a company co-owned by ABG and Simon Property Group.
Just last month, Authentic Brands announced an expanded partnership with Eddie Bauer licensee Outdoor 5 to broaden the company’s digital growth in e-commerce.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 3:07 PM.
