Gap Stores plans to sell its Pottery Barn unit.

The retailer, which bought the chain of housewares stores in April, 1984, said it has retained Shearson Lehman Bros. to help find a buyer. The unit, which operates 32 stores primarily in New York and Los Angeles, reportedly has been losing money. A sale of the unit would allow the San Bruno-based retailer to concentrate on its apparel stores, which recently have experienced a boom in sales and profits. Pottery Barn’s sales reportedly represent $20 million of the Gap’s $671.9 million in annual sales.