Anna's Linens, a California-based home decor retailer, is liquidating its inventory and closing its stores after filing for chapter 11 protection earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune reported today. The chain began notifying customers that it was selling off its assets last week through email and signs posted in store windows, while the company's website is closed for business. Northbrook-based Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Group announced yesterday they are managing the liquidation sale, which will include everything from merchandise to store fixtures. Anna's Linens currently operates 252 retail locations in 19 states. It filed for chapter 11 protection on June 14 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Founded in 1987 by Alan Gladstone, the retailer generates more than $300 million in annual revenue, according to bankruptcy documents. The chain, named after Gladstone's mother, has more than 2,500 employees.
