Two long-standing Victoria retail locations are expected to close as part of a major restructuring by Eddie Bauer, which is reportedly preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States.
The outdoor clothing retailer’s downtown Victoria store, located on the ground floor of the PL James Place federal building, is among the locations expected to shut down.
The company’s Mayfair Shopping Centre store is also slated for closure.
According to a report from fashion industry publication Women’s Wear Daily, Eddie Bauer plans to close all of its North American retail stores, affecting an estimated 200 locations across Canada and the United States.
As of early February 2026, Eddie Bauer operated 28 mall and outlet stores across Canada, according to Retail Insider. The closures would bring the brand’s physical retail presence in the country to an end.
Eddie Bauer was founded in Seattle in 1920 and entered the Canadian market in the late 1980s, becoming a familiar name in shopping centres and downtown cores across the country.
The company has undergone multiple ownership changes over the years. Eddie Bauer previously filed for bankruptcy in 2003 under its former parent company Spiegel Inc.
It later filed again after being acquired by Golden Gate Capital in 2009.
In 2021, the brand was acquired by Authentic Brands Group and SPARC Group, with Eddie Bauer now operated by Catalyst Brands under licence.
The reported bankruptcy filing is not expected to impact Eddie Bauer’s e-commerce, wholesale, or manufacturing operations in North America, which are being transitioned to existing licensee Outdoor 5.
Eddie Bauer stores in Japan are also not expected to be affected.
At this time, Eddie Bauer has not publicly confirmed a filing date or provided specific closure timelines for individual locations, including those in Victoria.
