It has been awhile since we have heard much about any smaller specialty retail closures.  Sure, we have heard a lot about box closures (Gottschalks, Mervyn’s, Circuit City and Linens ‘N Things), but all has been quiet on the specialty retail front for some time.  Until yesterday.

Eddie Bauer declared Chapter 11 and Ruehl has will be liquidating completely as per this article in today Women’s Wear Daily (http://www.wwd.com/business-news/eddie-bauer-files-chapter-11-2173510?src=nl/mornReport/20090618).  Neither of these developments is surprising per se, though I believe it portends the beginning of other similar announcements from specialty retailers…will the Martin & Osa concept really survive?  I can’t help but postulate that this is the beginning of a rash of specialty store closures.