A bankruptcy filing from one of the most iconic U.S. retailers was bound to be unique. But the series of events that have played out over the last several months have resulted in polarizing perceptions of what the future holds for Sears.
On one side, former CEO Eddie Lampert and his hedge fund ESL Investments have painted a picture of themselves as heroes swooping in to save the chain, along with roughly 425 stores and 45,000 jobs. They envision a world where Sears regains its competitive edge and a stable balance sheet.
