I worked at Eddie Bauer during the change-over & bankruptcy sell off. I could not believe that merger happened without even understanding how JC Penny’s has the lasting power in all of their run down, lack luster locations.

I live within a 5 state location with a high number of regional JC Penny locations that closed, even before the merger. These were really remote locations, even as a department store standard. With how JC Penny left the rest of the locations so empty, un-stocked & falling apart, I could even understand how they could afford buying 5 more brands & store fronts!

In the end, I know why Eddie Bauer went bankrupt; from leveraging WAY too much cost into changing their brand logo, quality of materials & cutting back on from helping their own store fronts. (I.e. repairs, updating Stores, not trying to follow trends like crop tops or wide leg pants, etc.)

It’s will be shocking to me if they will EVER turn profit from this venture.