Bath and body manufacturer and retailer Crabtree & Evelyn in the U.S. filed Wednesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it plans to close certain unprofitable retail stores, according to a bankruptcy court document.

The chain operates 126 U.S. Crabtree & Evelyn stores in 34 states, including locations at Brea Mall and South Coast Plaza, according to its Web site. It’s unknown if the O.C. stores will close. The company could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday morning.

“Over the last 18 months, the decline in the housing market and the tightening of the credit markets have led to a decline in consumer discretionary spending,” according to a bankruptcy court document. ”It is well known that (Crabtree & Evelyn) is not the only retailer and manufacturer to struggle in the current economic climate, the most difficult downturn experienced in the United States in decades.”

Here’s an excerpt from the company press release:

Day-to-day operations and business will continue to operate through the company’s wholesale, e-commerce (www.crabtree-evelyn.com) and retail channels. The company also intends to honor customer gift cards, returns and its loyalty program.

“The Crabtree & Evelyn brand remains strong,” said Stephen Bestwick, acting president of Crabtree & Evelyn, Ltd. “We are confident that Chapter 11 gives us the opportunity to restructure the company with a business model that will be sustainable for long-term growth.”

Founded as a purveyor of fine soaps from around the world, products were first sold under the Crabtree & Evelyn name starting around 1972. Crabtree & Evelyn has since expanded its product offerings to include personal care products and related accessories, fragrances, cookies, teas, jams and products for the home and gift arrangements, according to a bankruptcy court document.

Crabtree & Evelyn manufactures and distributes more than 25 product lines, including LaSource, Gardeners, India Hicks Island Living and Naturals. Its products have been mentioned in Vogue, Glamour and Lucky magazines , according to a bankruptcy court document.

More from OC Retail:

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• Eyewear retailer to close 117 stores
• Pottery Barn closes O.C. store  

For more from OC Retail, see list of links on the right-hand side of this blog.