Customers holding a Leslie’s gift card or a Pool Perks account can keep using both, the company says, even as the pool supply chain closes 76 of its more than 900 stores. Leslie’s, Inc. filed for prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 30 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, according to its press release.
“All gift cards and loyalty program benefits will continue to be honored,” the company said. All remaining stores stay open.
The questions for pool owners are plain ones: will a gift card still work, will rewards still count, can a return be made, and is the nearest store one of the 76 that are closing. The company’s answers so far are yes on the first three. The fourth depends on the store.
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What a prearranged Chapter 11 means
A prearranged case is one where the company has already reached an agreement with major lenders before filing. Leslie’s says more than 80 percent of its existing lenders back the plan. Chapter 11 is a restructuring, not a liquidation, and the company stays in business while the case moves through court.
The case page posted by the claims agent, Kroll, lists the case as No. 26-90795, before Judge Alfredo R. Pérez. Leslie’s and nine affiliated companies filed together, and the cases are handled jointly. The first hearing was Oct. 1, and a final hearing on the first-day motions is set for Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. Central.
The affiliated companies on the petition include Cortz, Inc., Horizon Spa & Pool Parts and Pool Parts, Inc. Kroll’s page says no claims deadline or list of closing stores was posted when the case opened. The company’s own site is where customers can look for updates.
Gift cards and Pool Perks
Leslie’s has a customer FAQ page for the case. It says gift cards remain valid “in accordance with our existing policies” and that nothing changes in the Pool Perks program. Members can still earn rewards on purchases and receive free standard shipping and other offers.
The FAQ adds that returns and exchanges are still accepted under the existing policies. In-field services, free in-store water testing and equipment repair continue as before.
Which stores are closing
The company announced the closure of 76 stores and says the rest stay open. The FAQ page tells customers to use the store locator on the Leslie’s site to see current locations. Neither the press release nor the FAQ lists the 76 stores by name or state.
The chain operates more than 900 locations, so the closures amount to roughly 8 percent of its stores. Bisnow reported on Oct. 1 that the company attributed its slowdown to poor weather during the peak season, which cut customer traffic and demand for specialty chemicals.
For shoppers, the closures mean a longer drive to the nearest open store in some areas. Online ordering through the Leslie’s website and mobile app continues, according to the company’s FAQ, which says the company is not going out of business.
The debt and the new money
The restructuring would cut about $685 million of the company’s funded debt, which Leslie’s puts at 90 percent of the total. To keep operating during the case, the company lined up $90 million in new debtor-in-possession financing and a $60 million equity investment backed by the lenders who signed the agreement. A further $225 million asset-based facility comes from existing lenders.
After the case, the lender group would hold majority control of the company. Leslie’s expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in early 2027. CEO Jason McDonell said in the company’s statement that a stronger balance sheet would let Leslie’s reinvest across the business.
Where court notices come from
Anyone who receives a court notice in the case is directed by the company’s FAQ to Kroll, the claims agent. Kroll’s line is (844) 408-3397, and the email address is [email protected].
What customers with a card or a pending order should do
The most direct free source is Leslie’s own information page for the restructuring. It carries the customer FAQ, the Kroll contact details and the store locator link. Anyone holding a gift card can use it under the company’s existing policies.
Keep receipts for any recent purchase, especially for equipment that carries a warranty, and keep order confirmations for anything not yet delivered. A customer with a question about a specific order or warranty can call Kroll or the store directly.
Leslie’s own release is specific about the main points: the company filed prearranged Chapter 11 cases on Sept. 30, is closing 76 stores, and will honor all gift cards and loyalty program benefits.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the Leslie’s company pages and other sources linked above.
