Distressed Retail


  • store front of Party City
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Party City to close all stores in bankruptcy

    About 14 months after emerging from Chapter 11, the retailer finds itself in bankruptcy court once again. This time, it’s liquidating.

    By Dec. 23, 2024
  • An organized closet display featuring The Container Store's "Custom Spaces" branding.
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    Courtesy of The Container Store
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    The Container Store files for bankruptcy, but it’s business as usual

    Thanks to an agreement with most of its term loan lenders, the retailer will keep its stores and website open and emerge as a private company.

    By Dec. 23, 2024
  • Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Retail Dive

    Though some of the problems of the pandemic have waned, retail continues to reel from C-suite turnover, changes in ecommerce and reassessment of DEI policies.  

    By Retail Dive staff
  • A Big Lots storefront with a cloudy gray sky
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    Big Lots to start going-out-of-business sales

    The move comes as the company lays off over 500 employees at its corporate headquarters.

    By Dec. 20, 2024
  • A blue 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Adidas headquarters searched, Amazon starts selling cars

    The activewear brand is under investigation for tax and customs compliance, while the e-commerce giant is offering Hyundai cars through Amazon Autos.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Dec. 13, 2024
  • foxtrot
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    Permission granted by Foxtrot
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    Outfox Hospitality faces $3.8M in labor penalties

    The Illinois Department of Labor seeks back wages from the bankrupt retailer for failing to give workers 60 days’ notice before they were laid off.

    By Jessica Loder • Dec. 11, 2024
  • A white storefront with a blue Container Store logo on it.
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    Courtesy of The Container Store
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    NYSE moves to delist The Container Store

    The home retailer has made several moves this year to strengthen its financial position as consumer reticence around discretionary spending persists.

    By Dec. 10, 2024
  • Puffy clouds and green trees frame a suburban department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Under new ownership, Lord & Taylor revives old logo and comeback dreams

    The chief strategy officer at Regal Brands Global, which now runs the venerable department store, talks to Retail Dive about what comes next.

    By Dec. 10, 2024
  • A Tupperware display at Target.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Lender group completes acquisition of Tupperware’s assets

    Party Products LLC — made up of Stonehill Capital Management and Alden Global Capital — has acquired the company’s brand name and other assets.

    By Howard Ruben • Dec. 4, 2024
  • A white storefront with a blue Container Store logo on it.
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    Courtesy of The Container Store
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    Beyond’s $40M investment in The Container Store may be off

    The Container Store’s failure to reach a satisfactory agreement with lenders puts their deal at risk, both retailers warned this week.

    By Nov. 21, 2024
  • The entrance to a downtown mall, with people walking by.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Auction of struggling San Francisco Centre mall postponed

    The property, previously anchored by a Nordstrom flagship that left last year and now more than $625 million in default, was set to be sold Thursday.

    By Nov. 18, 2024
  • Vitamin Shoppe owner files for bankruptcy

    Franchise Group, which also runs Pet Supplies Plus and Buddy’s Home Furnishings, will shut down American Freight starting this week.

    By Nov. 4, 2024
  • Walgreens revamps its app.
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    Courtesy of Walgreens
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    Walgreens to lay off over 250 people

    The decision regarding the support center roles follows a recent announcement that the pharmacy retailer plans to close 1,200 stores over the next three years.

    By Oct. 31, 2024
  • A white storefront with a blue Container Store logo on it.
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    Courtesy of The Container Store
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    The Container Store could file bankruptcy if Beyond equity deal fails

    Despite facing several challenges, turnaround efforts are gaining momentum, CEO Satish Malhotra said.

    By Oct. 30, 2024
  • A line of Esprit stores in an airport terminal have closed steel gates.
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    Andreas Rentz via Getty Images
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    Esprit US subsidiaries file for bankruptcy

    The Chapter 7 notices come in the wake of more than a dozen similar filings from Esprit Holdings affiliates around the world.

    By Lara Ewen • Oct. 30, 2024
  • foxtrot
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    Brett Dworski/Retail Dive
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    5 retail horror stories of 2024

    From Youthforia’s problematic foundation shade range to Foxtrot’s abrupt shuttering, retailers have been the subject of some scary stories.

    By Oct. 29, 2024
  • Tupperware bowl full of fruit on a table.
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    Courtesy of Tupperware
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    Lender group to buy Tupperware out of bankruptcy

    The lenders, which include Stonehill Capital Management Partners and Alden Global Capital, are offering $63.8 million in debt relief and about $23.5 million in cash.

    By Oct. 23, 2024
  • A new BuyBuy Baby storefront in Iselin, New Jersey
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    Permission granted by BuyBuy Baby
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    BuyBuy Baby to close all stores less than a year after relaunch

    The company said the move will allow it to transform "into a digital-first brand, focusing all our energy on providing an exceptional online shopping experience."

    By Oct. 18, 2024
  • A True Value freight truck.
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    Permission granted by True Value
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    True Value files for Chapter 11

    The 75-year-old brand, whose stores are largely excluded from the bankruptcy, is seeking court approval to sell itself to rival Do it Best for $153 million.

    By Oct. 15, 2024
  • An Orvis storefront
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    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
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    Iconic outdoor retailer Orvis will lay off 8% of workforce, close stores

    The 170-year-old Vermont-based retailer, known for its workwear and fishing gear, will also trim its assortment and drop its famous catalog.

    By Oct. 9, 2024
  • Storefront of a Party City.
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    Party City cuts prices on 2K items ahead of the holidays

    The celebrations and events retailer said it’s responding to consumers, who continue to feel budgetary pressure.

    By Sept. 27, 2024
  • A Salt Life retail storefront
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    Permission granted by Hilco
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    Salt Life retail stores to close in bankruptcy

    The beach brand will pivot to a new business model focused on e-commerce and wholesale as liquidation sales at 28 stores begin.

    By Sept. 25, 2024
  • A Tupperware display at Target.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Tupperware files for bankruptcy amid lender opposition

    The iconic housewares brand, famous for its direct-sales parties, has been slow to adapt to e-commerce and omnichannel retail.

    By Sept. 18, 2024
  • Big Lots to remain open on Thanksgiving.
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    Courtesy of Big Lots
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    Big Lots gets court OK for $550M in bankruptcy financing

    The funding will allow the bargain-focused retailer to continue normal operations, including paying employees and vendors.

    By Sept. 12, 2024
  • Private equity firm sweeps up LL Flooring, which will stay in business after all

    The bankrupt home improvement company, previously Lumber Liquidators, has inked a deal to be acquired by F9 Investments, its largest shareholder.

    By Sept. 9, 2024
  • The front door of the Sam Ash Music store in Richmond, Virginia with store closing signs.
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    Inside a closing Sam Ash Music store

    The family-run company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and the liquidation of its 42 retail stores began. Here’s what that looked like at one location.

    By Sept. 9, 2024