Bed Bath & Beyond is attempting a comeback: What we know

Three years after filing for bankruptcy and closing all 360 stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond, one of the original big box retailers, is attempting a comeback. 

The company’s big plans include new stores, the merging of old brands, and the acquisition of other retailers including The Container Store. Here’s what we know: 

The bankruptcy 

The backstory:

Founded in 1971, Bed Bath & Beyond had for years enjoyed its status as a big box retailer that offered a vast selection of sheets, towels and gadgets unmatched by department store rivals. It was among the first to introduce shoppers to many of today’s household items like the air fryer or single-serve coffee maker, and its 15% to 20% coupons were ubiquitous.

RELATED: Francesca's files for bankruptcy, launches closing sales at all locations

But for the last decade or so before it went under, Bed Bath & Beyond struggled with weak sales, largely because of its messy assortments and lagging online strategy that made it hard to compete with the likes of Target, Walmart and Wayfair. 

Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy in April 2023 and closed all 360 of its stores a few months later. Overstock bought Bed Bath & Beyond’s intellectual property assets for $21.5 million following the bankruptcy, preserving the store’s online presence.

The comeback

In August of last year, Overstock, now called Beyond, Inc., launched a rebranded store, Bed Bath & Beyond Home, and opened its first location in Nashville. At the time, the company said it was planning to open four more Bed Bath & Beyond Home stores in the Nashville market, then decide whether to expand. The new stores honor the original Bed Bath & Beyond coupons, if anyone still has them. 

RELATED: Bed Bath & Beyond returns with new name - and a coupon promise

The company also closed on the purchase of The Brand House Collective (formerly Kirkland’s) in September. 

What's next:

Now, the company has signed deals to acquire The Container Store, Elfa and Closet Works, according to a shareholder letter. Axios reports that The Container Store’s 100-plus locations will be merged into the company’s footprint and co-branded with Bed Bath & Beyond. The Container Store deal is valued at roughly $150 million. 

The comeback plan centers around the company’s "Everything Home" concept, which includes combining its Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, Kirkland's and buybuy Baby brands with home services like installation and customization.

Amy Sullivan, the company’s president, told Axios that Kirkland's will be reintroduced as a smaller home décor concept, while buybuy Baby could launch physical stores as early as next year.