1920 — Eddie Bauer's Sports Shop opens in downtown Seattle.

1922 — Establishes creed: "To give you such outstanding quality, value, service and guarantee that we may be worthy of your high esteem"; company introduces unconditional guarantee.

1936 — Manufactures first-ever quilted goose-down insulated garment, the "Skyliner" jacket.

1945 — Issues first mail-order catalog.

1968 — Eddie Bauer retires, sells business to friend and partner, William Niemi, and his son; first store outside of Seattle opens in San Francisco.

1971 — General Mills buys the company, expands nationally.

1988 — Spiegel purchases Eddie Bauer from General Mills, opens more than 300 stores during the next eight years.

1993 — Expands internationally with operations in Germany and Japan.

1997 — Opens 500th store in U.S.

March 2003 — Spiegel files for bankruptcy.

April 2004 — Spiegel says Eddie Bauer is for sale.

February 2005 — Fails to attract buyer for Eddie Bauer, takes off block.

May 20, 2005 — Appoints first board; William End named chairman of Eddie Bauer Holdings

May 25, 2005 — Bankruptcy court approves reorganization plan.