Beloved 100-Year-Old Retailer Sets Deadline for Customers as Stores Close

Eddie Bauer has been a beloved name in outdoor retail for more than a century, outfitting countless customers with premium apparel, gear, and accessories thanks in large part to an iconic founder who was a true trailblazer in the space.

Unfortunately, after a recent bankruptcy filing, all remaining North American stores are set to be shuttered. As those stores wind down operations, Eddie Bauer has set an important deadline for customers.

A Legendary History

When its first location opened in Seattle, Washington, in 1920, Eddie Bauer, both as a brand and as a man, was a true pioneer in outdoor apparel, sport, and lifestyle.

By 1934, Bauer had developed and patented a standardized shuttlecock, a contribution that helped bring badminton into the American mainstream. Then, in 1940, after contracting hypothermia on a winter fishing trip in Washington, he patented the first quilted goose down-insulated jacket in the United States. All in all, Bauer secured more than 20 patents across a range of outdoor clothing and sporting equipment early in his career.

During World War II, Eddie Bauer played a significant role in outfitting American forces, most notably by developing the B-9 Flight Parka, which was engineered to shield pilots from the brutal cold at high altitudes, with over 50,000 units produced for airmen. The brand also supplied the army with backpacks, pants, and sleeping bags, all of which became standard issue for American troops in the war.

The brand's reach stretched to some of the world's most extreme environments as well, with Eddie Bauer equipping both the American K2 Himalayan Expedition and multiple Antarctic journeys. When Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Mount Everest in 1963, he did so wearing an Eddie Bauer parka and other gear from the brand.

Important Deadline for Customers

Despite its legendary history, all Eddie Bauer stores in North America are expected to be shuttered as a result of a recent bankruptcy filing related to the legendary retailer. As the brick-and-mortar operations wind down in North America, Eddie Bauer has an important deadline for customers.

According to court filings obtained by Bloomberg, gift cards and rewards earned through Eddie Bauer’s Adventure Points program won’t be accepted after March 12 at stores closing in Canada and the U.S., meaning customers have just over a week to use their gift cards and rewards at those stores.

Additionally, all sales at those closing stores are final, meaning returns will not be accepted on merchandise bought as the stores liquidate their inventory for closure.

While all North American stores are expected to be shuttered, unless a buyer emerges, it's worth noting that this is not expected to impact Eddie Bauer’s manufacturing, wholesale, or e-commerce operations, which are handled by a separate company called Outdoor 5.

Other Eddie Bauer locations outside of the United States and Canada are unaffected by these closures because those locations are operated by other licensees not part of the bankruptcy filing.