Is Eddie Bauer Still In Business? All Stores Closed, What Is Left In 2026
Eddie Bauer patented the first quilted goose-down jacket in the US back in 1940, and its stores became a mall favorite for decades.
So when those stores started disappearing in 2026, many shoppers asked: is Eddie Bauer still in business?
Yes, Eddie Bauer is still in business in 2026 as a brand sold online, through wholesale partners and in Japan, but all of its US and Canadian stores have closed.
The company that ran those stores filed for bankruptcy on February 9, 2026, and no buyer stepped up for them.
The brand itself belongs to Authentic Brands Group, and its online and wholesale business moved to a new partner called Outdoor 5.
Below, we explain what happened, what is still open, and where you can still buy Eddie Bauer, so let’s dive in.
Is Eddie Bauer Still in Business? The Quick Answer
| Quick Answer | |
|---|---|
| Status | Still in business as a brand, with no stores in the US or Canada |
| Founded | 1920, in Seattle |
| Bankruptcy | Chapter 11 filed on February 9, 2026, by the store operator |
| Stores | 174 US and Canada stores set to close by April 30, 2026 |
| Brand owner | Authentic Brands Group |
| Where to buy | Online, wholesale partners, and stores in Japan |
So, is Eddie Bauer still in business? Yes, but not as the mall chain you remember.
You can still buy its jackets and gear, just not in a physical Eddie Bauer store in North America.
Why Eddie Bauer Went Bankrupt in 2026
Eddie Bauer’s problems did not start in 2026.
Its stores had been struggling for years before the bankruptcy made it official.
The Mall Store Problem
Analysts say Eddie Bauer’s stores lost their edge as shoppers moved online.
High lease costs and newer outdoor brands made things even harder, according to ConsumerAffairs.
At its peak, the brand had more than 500 stores worldwide.
It began 2026 with about 220 North American stores, and some leases ran out early in the year.
The Third Bankruptcy
Eddie Bauer had already gone through bankruptcy twice, in 2003 and again in 2009.
The latest filing came on February 9, 2026, in New Jersey, and it was filed by Eddie Bauer LLC, the company that runs the stores.
That company is part of Catalyst Brands, the same group behind JCPenney.
A TheStreet report said a planned March 6 auction was canceled, because no qualified bids came in by the March 3 deadline.
With no buyer, the company moved ahead with closing all 174 stores in the US and Canada.
Who Owns Eddie Bauer Now?
Eddie Bauer is split between three different companies, which is why the bankruptcy did not end the brand.
According to Fast Company, each one controls a different piece.
Authentic Brands Group owns the brand name and logo, which it bought in 2021.
Catalyst Brands held the license to run the stores in the US and Canada.
Outdoor 5 now handles the online store, wholesale, and manufacturing.
Authentic moved those online and wholesale rights to Outdoor 5 in early 2026, just before the bankruptcy filing.
That timing is why the bankruptcy did not touch online sales, wholesale, or the stores outside North America.
Where Can You Still Buy Eddie Bauer in 2026?
You can still shop on the official Eddie Bauer website, which Outdoor 5 now runs.
Its products are also expected to stay available through wholesale partners.
About 20 Eddie Bauer stores in Japan were not affected and keep operating.
Gift cards were only accepted in stores through March 12, 2026, and they could not be used online.
No plans to reopen stores under a new owner have been announced.
Authentic could still license the brand to other retailers in the future.
It is a path other brands have taken, like RadioShack, which lives on without its old chain of stores.
Conclusion
Yes, Eddie Bauer is still in business, but only as an online and wholesale brand in North America.
Its store operator went bankrupt in February 2026, and all 174 US and Canadian stores were set to close by April 30.
The brand name lives on under Authentic Brands Group, with Outdoor 5 running the online side.
Other famous names have found a way back, like Toys R Us, so a future comeback is not impossible.
For now, the official Eddie Bauer website is the best place to shop.
