Report: Brookstone plans bankruptcy filing

Sale to owner of Spencer’s chain is said to be in works

March 27, 2014

Jeff Feingold,

Merrimack-based specialty retailer Brookstone Inc. is preparing to file for bankruptcy as early as Sunday, with plans for its acquisition by another specialty retailer, Spencer Spirit Holdings, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper, citing people familiar with the situation, said Spencer Spirit – owner of the retail chains Spencer's and Spirit, is looking to complete paperwork over the weekend.

Spencer Spirit is expected to pay about $120 million for the company, the Journal said.

Brookstone was taken private in 2005 in a $445 million deal.

Categories: News, Restaurants, Retail & Tourism

More news from NHBR:

‘Honor Summit’ to illuminate Mount Washington to commemorate Sept. 11, 2001, attacks

Nonprofit founded by businesswoman Renee Plummer raising funds to help veterans

A day at home, a day at the office

Hybrid and remote work models continue to boom in the Granite State

Turn of the leaf

Supporters of fewer restrictions on cannabis in NH see glimpse of a possible future

Why hybrid healthcare is a business imperative for employers in New Hampshire

Access to healthcare is more than an employee recruiting or retention tool. It is one of the largest line items on the balance sheet and a critical factor in workforce stability.

CEO: Manchester company a key to success of Patriot missile

A 25-person tech company in Manchester, Vibrac Precision Test Systems, anticipates explosive growth as the United States and Europe move to expand their stockpiles of Patriot defense missiles.

Landfill-siting bill praised and panned

House Bill 707, signed into law by NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte, promotes expanding existing landfills, rather than building new ones, and also establishes a seven-member committee to evaluate landfill sites.

Ayotte’s transportation plan veto raises questions about effect on NH economy

The state’s highway infrastructure is in great need of repair, according to a 2026 independent report that ties the improvements directly to the health of New Hampshire’s economy. Long-term needs are currently underfunded, says TRIP (The Road Information Program), a private, nonprofit organization that researches surface transportation issues across the country.