• Slide 1 of 50: Retailers had a brutal 2019, and while predictions for 2020 were similarly grim, they didnt include the coronavirus. Now a growing number of companies are waving a white flag as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on not just retail, but other parts of the global economy. Here are some of the most prominent companies to file for bankruptcy since mid-March, including one announced this week, and a slew of big names that are at risk of following. Related: These Companies That Filed for Bankruptcy Also Awarded Their CEOs Huge Bonuses
  • Slide 2 of 50: Discounter Stein Mart was in the process of being sold to a private equity firm when the pandemic hit, disrupting what was supposed to be a turnaround plan. The chain sought government aid to stay afloat for some of the year, but filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday citing "significant financial distress" caused by both COVID-19 and its customers' changing buying habits. Most of its 300 stores will close, the company says.  Related: How to Shop Going-Out-of-Business Sales
  • Slide 3 of 50: Airlines were one of the first industries to feel the pain of the pandemic, and several have already filed for bankruptcy as profits have plummeted. Virgin Atlantic joined the fray last week, filing for Chapter 15 bankruptcy as it works to firm up a bailout aided by the British government. Its sister airline, Virgin Australia, filed for bankruptcy in April after the Australian government decided against an $888 million bailout. Delta owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic.Related: Which Airlines Are Taking the Most COVID-19 Precautions?
  • Slide 4 of 50: Lord & Taylor, the nation's oldest department store, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early August. The chain was purchased last year by Le Tote, a clothing subscription service that has also filed for bankruptcy. Lord & Taylor has just under 40 stores nationwide, and about half of them appear to be closing permanently. Related: 18 Iconic Department Stores We Miss
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  • Slide 5 of 50: Tailored, which owns Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, and K&G brands, filed for Chapter 11 in early August. The company, hit hard by a major drop in demand for business attire and formalwear amid the pandemic, has had bankruptcy advisers for weeks. It says it will permanently close up to 500 stores. Related: 50 Events That Made Retail History Before the Pandemic
  • Slide 6 of 50: This casual dining chain, a staple at malls and shopping centers across the country, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late July. The most prominent restaurant to file since Chuck E. Cheese, California Pizza Kitchen has not said whether it will close any of its more than 200 locations, most of which are several months behind on rent payments. Related: 18 Chain Restaurants That are Closing Locations This Year — and 11 That Could Be Next
  • Slide 7 of 50: Though gun sales are skyrocketing during the pandemic, that hasn't saved Remington, one of America's oldest gun makers, from declaring bankruptcy. Remington first filed for Chapter 11 two years ago and had been in talks to strike an ownership deal with the Navajo Nation, but those negotiations recently stalled. The company has struggled to keep up with debt payments and also faces major lawsuits connected to the shooting of elementary school children in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, in 2012.
  • Slide 8 of 50: Best known for mall staples Ann Taylor, Loft, and Lane Bryant, Ascena filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of July. The company plans to close 1,600 of its 2,800 stores, including most of its Justice tween clothing stores and all of its Catherine's plus-size clothing stores. Last year, Ascena closed all of its Dressbarn stores last year and has struggled with falling store foot traffic.
  • Slide 9 of 50: One of the nation's most prominent producers of gas engines declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-July. The Wisconsin-based company was in trouble before the pandemic, its sales crunched by profit-hungry big-box retailers and the near-total failure of Sears, which sold Briggs & Stratton-powered Craftsman tools and lawn equipment.
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  • Slide 10 of 50: This Northeastern chain selling stationery, ornaments, and other giftable items filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in July, blaming pandemic-related store shutdowns. It will search for a new owner but keep its doors open in the meantime.
  • Slide 11 of 50: RTW Retailwinds, the parent company of women’s fashion retailer New York & Co., filed for bankruptcy earlier in July after losing millions and defaulting on payments to landlords and vendors in the wake of COVID-19 closings. The company expects to shut most or all of its nearly 380 stores, and liquidation sales are already beginning in some locations.
  • Slide 12 of 50: Like many retailers, this Japanese home-goods chain with locations around the world saw its stores closed temporarily because of the pandemic. But its U.S. stores, clustered mostly in New York and California, have been struggling to turn a profit for several years. The chain says it will refocus on its online business and close "a small number" of stores while in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which it declared earlier in July.
  • Slide 13 of 50: Brooks Brothers has long been on uncertain footing as employers have relaxed formal dress codes, lessening demand for its pricey suits. The chain noted for its menswear filed for bankruptcy earlier in July and is closing roughly 50 stores while it continues to search for a buyer. It will also halt manufacturing at three U.S. factories.
  • Slide 14 of 50: This specialty cookware retailer joined Brooks Brothers in filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early July and was recently sold for close to $90 million. The new buyers plan to keep at least 50 of the chain's 120 stores open. The pandemic forced Sur La Table to not only shutter most stores earlier this year but cancel its in-store cooking classes, a cornerstone of the brand.
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  • Slide 15 of 50: Lucky Brand, known for its denim and bohemian-inspired apparel, filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of July. Like many well-known mall retailers, Lucky Brand had been struggling with slumping sales over the past decade as would-be buyers started turning to e-commerce instead. It is closing 13 stores and has found a buyer in SPARC Group, owner of Aeropostale and Nautica.
  • Slide 16 of 50: Mexican airline Aeromexico announced early in July that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States as a result of the "unprecedented challenges" the industry is facing. It will continue to operate and move ahead with plans to add flights as it restructures.Related: This U.S. Airline Has Cut 76% of Its Routes
  • Slide 17 of 50: The largest operator of iconic fast-food brands Pizza Hut and Wendy's has been on shaky footing since the beginning of the year, with a debt burden approaching $1 billion. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the beginning of July.
  • Slide 18 of 50: The legendary producer of mind-bending acrobatics shows in Las Vegas and elsewhere announced in late June that it had filed for bankruptcy and is laying off about 3,500 people. Cirque du Soleil attributed the moves to challenges brought about by the pandemic. The company says it hopes to restructure its debt with the help of the Canadian government and private equity firms.
  • Slide 19 of 50: The parent company of this iconic kid’s pizza chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of June even as many of its 550 locations reopened across the country. The CEO called COVID-19 and its closures “the most challenging event in our company’s history,” and the company eventually announced that it will permanently shutter close to three dozen locations.Related: 12 Places That Kids Love But Parents Hate
  • Slide 20 of 50: The inescapable vitamin retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of June, blaming a pandemic-related sales slump and mounting debt, among other factors. The company is putting itself up for sale and says it may close more than 1,200 of its 7,300 stores.
  • Slide 21 of 50: The national fitness chain joined Gold's Gym in pandemic-related bankruptcy with a Chapter 11 filing in June. The company said its money troubles were a direct result of COVID-19 closings and announced that about 100 of its 400 locations will be permanently shut down as it reorganizes.
  • Slide 22 of 50: This Dallas-based discount home-goods chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of May, saying it was the only way to bounce back from two months of pandemic-related store closings. Part of the reorganization: The company will close 230 of its 700 stores.
  • Slide 23 of 50: Latin America’s largest carrier filed for Chapter 11 protection at the end of May. Unlike chief competitor Avianca, it was on solid financial footing before most flights were grounded, according to Reuters.
  • Slide 24 of 50: The rental-car behemoth filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, saying the pandemic had brought business to a screeching halt as would-be travelers stayed home. The company is now seeking a new loan to finance its operations while in bankruptcy after a plan to sell its stock attracted scrutiny from the SEC.  Related: Bankruptcy Bargains: Save Over $1,000 Buying These Used Cars From Hertz
  • Slide 25 of 50: JCPenney has been on retail analysts’ watch list for a while, and the beleaguered department store chain finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-May. The company said the pandemic had torpedoed ongoing efforts to bolster its finances. It will be closing 240 stores as part of its restructuring plan.Related: 30 Things to Buy at JCPenney While You Still Can
  • Slide 26 of 50: Although Pier 1 declared bankruptcy in February, before the pandemic had fully taken hold, the company's hope was to find a buyer to breathe new life into the struggling chain of home goods stores. But Pier 1 said in May that it would close all stores and begin liquidating instead, partially blaming the “uncertainty of a post-COVID world.” Related: 24 Things to Buy at Pier 1 While You Still Can
  • Slide 27 of 50: While most major companies are restructuring in bankruptcy, the parent company of prominent buffet chains Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes is closing all locations for good. Garden Fresh Restaurants filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in mid-May, saying federal regulations forbidding self-service in restaurants made salvaging the business too difficult.
  • Slide 28 of 50: Preppy-apparel stalwart J. Crew has been in trouble for years, a victim of lower mall foot traffic and the shift to online shopping even as its Madewell brand found a following. It filed in early May for Chapter 11 protection, but experts say that probably would have happened regardless of the pandemic temporarily shuttering stores. The retailer will use $400 million in creditor money to navigate bankruptcy.
  • Slide 29 of 50: The pandemic has been crushing for gyms, and Gold's Gym announced in early May that it was filing for bankruptcy, saying "no single factor" has harmed its business more. Though the chain closed 30 locations permanently in April, the rest of its locations will stay open where permitted as it reorganizes.
  • Slide 30 of 50: Department stores have long been struggling to adapt to a world increasingly dependent on ecommerce, and the "unprecedented disruption" caused by COVID-19 forced the hand of debt-saddled luxury chain Neiman Marcus. It filed for Chapter 11 protection in early May and says it will draw on $675 million in creditor funds to operate for the next several months while reorganizing.
  • Slide 31 of 50: This prominent Latin American airline filed for Chapter 11 protection in mid-May, directly citing "the unforeseeable impact" of the pandemic on business. The company says 88% of the countries where it flies are under total or partial travel lockdown, but analysts note that the airline was already in trouble from negative credit ratings and sudden leadership changes.
  • Slide 32 of 50: This parent company of well-known chains including Bealls, Goody’s, and Palais Royal also sought Chapter 11 protection in mid-May, a move being discussed before the pandemic. Though it is seeking a buyer, Stage is liquidating inventory at its more than 700 stores.Editors' Note: A previous version of this story included an image of a store owned by Florida-based Bealls Inc., which is not affiliated with Stage Stores. We regret the error.
  • Slide 33 of 50: This footwear retailer announced in early May that it had filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the United States and is seeking similar relief in Canada, where it is based, and Switzerland. While it says it had faced challenges before the pandemic, COVID-19 "has put too much pressure on our business and our cash flows." Related: 25 Canadian Stores That Americans Love
  • Slide 34 of 50: While most communications businesses are well-positioned to survive and even thrive during the pandemic, Frontier Communications filed for Chapter 11 in April, admitting it's been too slow to upgrade its network, especially as customers expect faster internet speeds. The company has pledged to maintain service while restructuring.
  • Slide 35 of 50: Satellite communications company SpeedCast International, the company likely responsible for the internet connection on your last cruise, filed for bankruptcy in April after sustaining a one-two punch. Cruises have been halted because of the pandemic, and its other major customer, the oil industry, is struggling as oil prices bottom out. Related: 1 in 4 Avid Cruise Goers: 'I'll Never Go on a Cruise Again'
  • Slide 36 of 50: Denim giant True Religion filed for bankruptcy in April, its second time restructuring in three years. The company called out COVID-19 specifically for compounding its money crunch and says Chapter 11 will help it stay in business once stores can reopen. Related: 25 Popular Stores That Could Soon Be Out of Business
  • Slide 37 of 50: Long a shell of its former self, gourmet grocer Dean & DeLuca filed for bankruptcy at the end of March. The grocer, bought by a Thai company in 2014, closed its last remaining store in October and reports that it has one remaining employee and more than a half-million dollars in liabilities. Still, it hopes to restructure and eventually reopen stores in New York City.
  • Slide 38 of 50: Though these drive-thru-based burger joints seem well-suited to weather the coronavirus crisis, analysts say the chains were laboring under a high debt load before the pandemic.
  • Slide 39 of 50: Like all too many mall-based retailers, J.Jill’s woes have roots far beyond COVID-19. The women’s apparel chain saw big losses last year and is now struggling to pay its creditors after pandemic-related closures ate further into profits.
  • Slide 40 of 50: Like many theme parks, SeaWorld is reopening, but there are rumblings that bankruptcy could be in the cards for the iconic Orlando, Florida-based company. Experts say SeaWorld has missed payments on major construction projects, and others point out that it isn’t as diversified as Disney or Universal, deepening the impact of recent shutdowns.
  • Slide 41 of 50: This fast-casual sandwich chain may be exploring ways to restructure in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It already announced in May that it would close as many as 100 locations across the country.
  • Slide 42 of 50: AMC has acknowledged it “cannot be certain” that it will be able to stay afloat, especially with limited new movie releases and the possibility of more pandemic-related closings. Deals with lenders have made the financial dangers to the nation’s largest movie theater chain less immediate, though.
  • Slide 43 of 50: Sears barely survived bankruptcy in 2018, so analysts are skeptical it could emerge from a second round. The once-giant retailer and its sister chain Kmart have shrunk considerably over the past several years, and fewer than 100 stores will remain between the two after yet another round of store closings this summer, according to Forbes. Related: 35 Things to Get at the Sears Stores That Are Shutting Down
  • Slide 44 of 50: The retailer's stock has been on a steady decline for seven years as gamers continue to turn to game downloads that don't require a store visit. At the end of March, the company announced it would be closing 300 stores permanently; it closed a similar number in 2019.
  • Slide 45 of 50: Rite Aid continues to face steep competition from the likes of CVS and Walgreens, as well as big-box stores like Target and Walmart. It also has billions in debt and little ability to diversify, analysts say.
  • Slide 46 of 50: Already struggling after a helium shortage and poor Halloween sales, Party City is in even deeper trouble because of the pandemic and social-distancing guidelines that make most parties a no-go. The company has reportedly hired a firm to help it plan a potential restructuring plan.
  • Slide 47 of 50: A new owner recently acquired Forever 21, which already filed for bankruptcy last year. While store closings were already in the mix, the pandemic makes the company's fragile reorganization especially fraught.
  • Slide 48 of 50: The parent of Victoria’s Secret recently announced it would close 250 of its lingerie stores as well as 50 Bath & Body Works locations. The company recently parted ways with a private equity firm that it hoped would help save the struggling chains. Related: 34 Companies That Changed American Culture for Better or Worse
  • Slide 49 of 50: Plenty of airlines could join this list depending on how long travel restrictions cripple business, but Norwegian Air may be among the worst off. It was already struggling before the pandemic, and several of its subsidiaries have already filed for bankruptcy.
  • Slide 50 of 50: Analysts warn that this quick-service staple will have an especially hard time refinancing its loans and avoiding bankruptcy as pandemic-related shutdowns further eat into earnings.
Slide 50 of 50: Analysts warn that this quick-service staple will have an especially hard time refinancing its loans and avoiding bankruptcy as pandemic-related shutdowns further eat into earnings.

In Trouble: Steak ‘n Shake

Analysts warn that this quick-service staple will have an especially hard time refinancing its loans and avoiding bankruptcy as pandemic-related shutdowns further eat into earnings.