Kitchenware chain files for bankruptcy, closes 56 stores including Plaza site in KC

Seattle-based Sur La Table has filed for bankruptcy protection and will close 56 of its 121 locations, including one on the Country Club Plaza.

Sur La Table, sellers of high-end kitchenware, took a 5,000-square-foot space at 430 Nichols Road and opened in mid-2011.

But in the bankruptcy announcement Wednesday, it said it needed to close certain stores to prosper in the current retail environment and position the company for a “vibrant future,” especially as consumers focus more on cooking and home entertainment.

In a statement, CEO Jason Goldberger, said: “Sur La Table will have a balance sheet and retail footprint optimized to position the company for a bright future that continues our nearly 50-year tradition of offering high-quality cooking products and experiences to our customers.”

After the restructuring the company could then be sold to a New York investment group.