ORANGE COUNTY

Furniture Retailer Files for Bankruptcy: Mr. Bear’s Furniture Co., a seven-store chain based in Corona, has joined the growing list of furniture retailers who have filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors, attorneys said Thursday. Mr. Bear’s petitioned for reorganization Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Bernardino, said the company’s lawyer, Robert Goe. It listed $1.7 million in assets and $2.1 million in liabilities. As for the cause, “it was nothing specific; it was just continuing losses and trying to restructure,” Goe said. The 60-employee company, which has Orange County stores in Westminster, Brea and Laguna Hills, will close unprofitable stores to improve the efficiency of its operations. Other furniture retailers that have filed for bankruptcy in the last two years include Barker Bros., based in Los Angeles, and RB Furniture, which had its headquarters in Irvine.