Brookstone files for bankruptcy protection again and will close remaining mall stores

Brookstone, the ubiquitous seller of cool but largely unneeded things, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again and closing the 100 stores that remain in malls.

Malls have suffered for years due to far-reaching shifts in the way Americans shop for just about everything, which has diminished foot traffic at Brookstone. On Thursday, Chief Executive Piau Phang Foo called the situation in malls “extremely challenging,” and thanked employees who had staffed stores in those locations.

Brookstone will focus solely on its airport locations and online sales.

“The decision to close our mall stores was difficult, but ultimately provides an opportunity to maintain our well-respected brand and award-winning products while operating with a smaller physical footprint,” Foo said in a statement.

There are about a dozen Brookstone stores in Southern California malls.

The company has 35 stores in airports, which, along with its online and wholesale business, will be attractive to any potential buyer, Foo said.

According to a bankruptcy filing Thursday, Brookstone has assets of $50 million to $100 million, and liabilities of $100 million to $500 million.

Brookstone first filed for bankruptcy protection in 2014. The Merrimack, N.H., company was sold at auction in June of that year before emerging from bankruptcy protection.

Brookstone Inc. was founded in 1965 when Pierre de Beaumont put an ad in Popular Mechanics Magazine offering hard-to-find tools and other devices, according to the company’s website. Its first store opened in 1973.