Investcorp-Backed Sur La Table Said to Prepare Bankruptcy (1)

High-end cookware chain Sur La Table Inc. is preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing after the pandemic forced it to close stores and cancel cooking classes, according to people familiar with the matter.

The chain, with about 125 stores, is also pursuing a sale, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isn’t public.

For companies like Sur La Table that offer classes and other in-store experiences, the nationwide shutdown has been even more pernicious. The chain, owned by alternative investment firm Investcorp, temporarily closed its stores across the U.S. in March.

A spokesperson for ...