Popular children’s retailer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Financial distress in the retail sector since the Covid-19 pandemic has been fueled by a combination of increased competition, higher labor and product costs driven by inflation, and rising interest rates on debt obligations.

Economic issues have forced a variety of retailers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize their businesses and restructure debt.

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Several retailers selling general merchandise, auto parts, furniture, home decor, crafts, and fabrics have filed for bankruptcy protection as well.

In the last two years, drugstore chain Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy with plans to liquidate.

The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time on Oct. 15, 2023, and closed about 800 of its 2,100 stores as part of a reorganization plan.

The drugstore chain filed for Chapter 11 protection a second time on May 5, 2025, as New Rite Aid LLC, and has begun closing its remaining stores and is expected to go out of business.

Wheel Pros, which operates as auto parts distributor and retailer Hoonigan, filed for a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 9, 2024, with plans to hand 85% of its new equity interests to holders of first-lien claims and 15% to new first-lien lenders.

Accuride Corp., another top manufacturer of wheels and wheel end products for commercial trucks and trailers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 9, 2024, seeking a consensual restructuring of its debt.

Retail chains file for bankruptcy protection

Global auto parts giant Marelli Holdings Co., which is owned by KKR, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 11, 2025, with a prearranged restructuring agreement to wipe out billions of dollars of debt and hand ownership of the company to its senior lenders.

The operator of BoConcept furniture retail stores in South Florida on Nov. 15, 2024, filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Lauderdale, seeking to reorganize its business.

Crafts and fabrics retailer Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 15, 2025, with plans to close 790 stores and five distribution centers, sell its assets, and wind down operations.

Home decor retailer At Home on June 16 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to close 26 underperforming stores by Sept. 30.

Ezpz’s founder Lindsey Laurain was featured on an episode of “Shark Tank” in 2016. (Photo by Michael Desmond/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Michael Desmond/Getty Images

Ezpz files for bankruptcy protection

Finally, children’s specialty products retailer Ezpz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its debts and reorganize its business.

The Parker, Colo.-based oral care and feeding products retailer’s parent Eazy-PZ LLC filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado on June 18, listing $1 million to $10 million in assets and liabilities.

More bankruptcy:

Ezpz’s top creditors include the U.S. Small Business Administration, owed over $485,000 in secured debt; Capital Premium Financing, owed over $23,000 in secured debt; and WebBank, owed over $22,000 in secured debt.

The debtor did not indicate a reason for filing for bankruptcy in the petition.

Ezpz, which launched on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in 2014, offers oral care products, such as tooth brushes, and feeding items, such as plates, bowls, cups, straws, utensils, and cleaning accessories, for children of all ages. For dogs and cats, the company sells pet bowls.

The company was featured on an episode of “Shark Tank” in 2016, as founder Lindsey Laurain sought $1 million for 5% equity in her company, but turned down offers from the Sharks, according to Shark Tank Recap.

The debtor’s products are sold at over 160 retail stores nationwide, including retail chains Sprout, Pacifier, Nini & Loi, and Kid to Kid.

Products can be purchased through baby registries at Target, Amazon, Babylist, Crate & Kids, and Pottery Barn Kids. It also sells products through Shopify, as well as the Ezpz website.