Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports file for Chapter 11

Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, two providers of athletic apparel and sporting goods, filed for Chapter 11 on the night of Tuesday, Jan 18. The filing was made with a Delaware court.

While the companies, which were acquired by GoDigital Media Group in 2022, are technically headquartered in Los Angeles after the acquisition, they are well known retailers throughout Fairfield County and across Connecticut.

Recently the stores announced plans to shutter 10 locations across the Northeast and lay off roughly 150 employees.

According to the filings the stores have 369 unsecured creditors. Their assets are between $50 million and $100 million, as are their owed debts.

The largest creditors are mainly clothing brands which were carried at the stores. Connecticut-based creditors include utility companies, landscaping businesses, trash haulers, and the City of Waterbury Tax Office.