Linens Holding Co., owner of “Linens ‘n Things,” announced that the company and its United States subsidiaries have filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The national home furnishings chain will continue to operate its stores without interruption during the reorganization and the stores are open for business and expect to be well stocked with merchandise. The filing pertains only to LNT’s operations in the United States. The company’s Canadian stores, which are among the strongest performers in the chain, are not included in the filing and there are no plans for a similar filing in Canada.

The decision to file for Chapter 11 protection was driven largely by the impact of the current economic downturn on the company’s operating performance. The company also announced that as part of its financial restructuring it plans to close 120 underperforming stores.