Leslie’s, the Phoenix-based pool and spa supplies retailer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 30, 2026, and announced plans to close 76 stores. The filing is part of a lender-backed restructuring—not a completed shutdown of the chain. The company said the plan would reduce its funded debt by about $685 million and transfer majority ownership to existing lenders.
What Leslie’s announced
Leslie’s entered Chapter 11 with a restructuring support agreement from a group of its existing lenders. The company said the proposed restructuring would eliminate approximately $685 million, or about 90%, of its outstanding funded debt, while giving those lenders majority ownership. Those are terms of the announced plan, not a statement that the court process is complete. AZFamily reported the announcement on September 30, 2026.
The company said it expected to complete the restructuring and emerge from bankruptcy in early 2027. That is a target, not a confirmed outcome. An October 2 report by the Orlando Business Journal said the petition was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and listed more than $1.2 billion in debt; that figure is reported from the petition, which was not independently available in the material reviewed. Orlando Business Journal’s report provides that account.
How to read the closure numbers
The 76 stores are the announced first wave, not a verified final total of locations that will close. A Phoenix Business Journal report on October 1 said Leslie’s had closed 80 stores and one distribution center in the preceding 12 months. It also reported that the company was considering as many as 200 store closures during Chapter 11. That larger figure is a possibility under consideration, not an announced commitment to close 200 stores. Phoenix Business Journal’s report describes those figures.
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The September 30 announcement did not provide the closure locations. The later reporting described the initial 76 as already shut or expected to close by mid-October, but it did not establish a complete official store list. A reported or considered closure should not be treated as confirmation that a particular nearby store has closed.
What customers should do about a specific store
Because a complete location list and store-by-store service guidance were not confirmed in the available reporting, customers should verify directly before making a trip or relying on a location for a time-sensitive need.
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- Check Leslie’s current store information or contact the local store to confirm whether it is open and providing the service you need.
- For an order, return, repair, or other unresolved issue, contact Leslie’s through its current customer-service channels and keep order numbers and written confirmations.
- Do not assume that the bankruptcy announcement alone means a store has closed, or that every store will operate normally; confirm the specific location and request.
What Leslie’s says the restructuring is intended to do
CEO Jason McDonell described the announcement as a step toward a stronger balance sheet and greater financial flexibility, with the company intending to reinvest in operations and the in-store and online customer experience. He also said, “Leslie’s is here to stay.” That is management’s rationale and assurance at announcement time, not evidence that future performance or customer service outcomes are guaranteed. AZFamily quoted McDonell in its September 30 report.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
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