All Eddie Bauer stores across Canada are expected to shut their doors as the outdoor-apparel chain seeks bankruptcy protection in North America, according to multiple media reports.

Women’s Wear Daily was the first to report the planned closures, citing unidentified sources. Eddie Bauer has yet to comment publicly on the reports. The expected closures would affect about 200 Eddie Bauer locations across North America, including 28 in Canada.

The anticipated upcoming shutdowns are tied to plans for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the United States and a strategic shift toward a fully digital business model, according to reporting by Women’s Wear Daily and other media reports. A yet-to-be-named Canadian court is expected to oversee the liquidation of Eddie Bauer’s Canadian assets.

Such dual-court processes are common with bankruptcy cases that affect companies operating on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

While Eddie Bauer has not formally confirmed a store-by-store shutdown, some locations have closed abruptly and store-locator tools have been removed from the company’s website, the media reports say.

Eddie Bauer’s parent company, Authentic Brands Group, announced in early January that it had partnered with Outdoor 5 to take over the brand’s e-commerce, wholesale, design and product development operations in both Canada and the U.S.

Customers across North America have reported arriving at locations listed as open only to find them closed, fuelling speculation that store exits are already underway. International locations outside North America are not expected to be affected, Michigan Live reported.

Founded in Seattle in 1920, Eddie Bauer grew into a global outdoorwear name and once operated hundreds of stores worldwide. The company has changed ownership multiple times and previously sought bankruptcy protection in 2009 before being acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2021.

Eddie Bauer stores in Japan are not expected to be affected by the Canadian and U.S. closures.