Car Toys: 38-Year Retailer's $14M Going-Concern Sale

Car Toys Inc., the Auburn, Washington-based automotive electronics retailer that Daniel Brettler founded in 1987 with a single Bellevue store, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 18, 2025, after nearly four decades as a Pacific Northwest car audio retailer. Brettler, a University of Vermont graduate and Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" winner, had built Car Toys into the fifth-largest mobile electronics retailer in the United States at its peak. The company that once collected $1.5 million in first-year sales and grew to become the largest independent multi-channel specialty car audio and mobile electronics retailer in America saw its revenue decline from $127 million in 2021 to a projected $60 million in 2025—a 53% decline in four years.

The chapter 11 case, docketed as Case No. 25-12288 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington before Judge Timothy W. Dore, listed assets and liabilities between $10 million and $50 million. The proceedings included disputes tied to insider lending and plan control. Brettler served not only as founder, Chairman, and CEO, but also as Car Toys' sole secured creditor with claims exceeding $20 million—a dual role that triggered both a U.S. Trustee motion to convert the case to chapter 7 and an Unsecured Creditors' Committee motion to appoint a chapter 11 trustee. A December 2025 settlement framework set a path toward a joint liquidating plan.

Wireless Advocates Shutdown and the Aftermarket Decline

Car Toys cited two factors in the First Day Declaration: the December 2022 shutdown of affiliate Wireless Advocates LLC, which had shared overhead costs with Car Toys, and declining demand for aftermarket car audio installations as OEM-installed systems gained market share.

Wireless Advocates operated 535 cellphone kiosks at Costco locations and 65 at military bases, selling phones and services for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The company shared management, office space, employees, and infrastructure with Car Toys under a Shared Services Agreement—an arrangement that allowed both entities to spread overhead costs across a larger operational base. When Costco declined to renew its partnership, Wireless Advocates ceased operations entirely on December 5, 2022, terminating more than 1,800 employees without advance notice. The shutdown caught Costco off guard and forced Car Toys to absorb full operational costs independently for the first time in years. The Wireless Advocates shutdown also generated ongoing legal exposure. A WARN Act class action resulted in a $3.5 million settlement from the Wireless Advocates estate, with Car Toys agreeing to contribute $125,000 to resolve claims that it was a joint employer. Wireless Advocates proceeded through chapter 7 liquidation under Trustee Virginia A. Burdette, with the related adversary proceeding and settlement obligations continuing during Car Toys' bankruptcy case.

The second force—technological disruption—affected Car Toys' core business model. Modern vehicles increasingly arrive equipped with factory-installed audio and entertainment systems, reducing demand for aftermarket installations. OEM-installed audio systems accounted for 69% of the car audio market by 2024, leaving aftermarket retailers to compete for a smaller segment while facing technical barriers such as integration difficulties with OEM electronics, software compatibility issues, and cost disadvantages that discouraged consumer upgrades. Automotive OEMs have pulled premium audio in-house, with more manufacturers moving audio from analog to digital systems that limit aftermarket provider compatibility; the same source noted there were twice as many car audio-only shops not long ago.

Car Toys' car audio business, which represented approximately 70% of total revenue, experienced consistent annual declines of 8% to 10% since 2020. The company's financial trajectory:

By July 2025, year-to-date sales of $49.5 million fell $8 million below prior year and $11 million below plan—an 18% negative variance to projections. Sales were down 14% year-over-year while traffic declined 13%.

Pre-Petition Rescue Attempts and Brettler's Secured Lending

Before filing, management implemented cost reduction measures that achieved approximately $10 million in annualized cash flow improvements.

The restructuring initiatives included a September 2024 store reorganization that eliminated 140 positions, generating $2 million in annual savings through workforce reduction and role consolidation. Corporate overhead reductions during Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 added $3.4 million in annual savings. Additional operational improvements—including pricing adjustments, inventory rationalization, and marketing expense reductions—contributed another $4.3 million in annual cash flow improvements. The company also modified installer compensation to include sales commissions.

Beyond cost-cutting, Car Toys attempted to find a strategic buyer or investor. The company engaged SierraConstellation Partners in March 2025 to conduct a formal marketing process, contacting more than 42 potential strategic buyers. No viable offers materialized.

Brettler funded the company's continuing operations through a series of secured loans, according to the Brettler Declaration. The lending began in May 2023 with an initial $2 million loan and increased over the following two years. By August 2025, Brettler had advanced total loan proceeds exceeding $17 million, all secured by substantially all of Car Toys' assets. Interest accrued at SOFR plus 0.75%, generating approximately $958,000 in accrued interest by the petition date.

Five days before the bankruptcy filing, on August 13, 2025, Brettler paid off a Webster Bank line of credit of approximately $5 million, adding that obligation to his secured claim against the company. The transaction later became central to contested proceedings, with the Unsecured Creditors' Committee alleging that Brettler received $2.5 million of the Webster loan proceeds directly and questioning whether those amounts should be included in his secured claim.

Going-Concern Sales: $14 Million Across Five Transactions

Car Toys sold 35 of its 47 stores to five different buyers for approximately $14 million combined. The sales were approved under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code free and clear of liens through a series of Sale Orders entered in late September 2025.

The buyers included current employees and regional competitors, a structure that Brettler addressed in a public statement: "While we find ourselves in a less-than-ideal chapter, I am extremely proud of my team and pleased that the Car Toys brand... will continue."

The sale structure included seller financing, with multiple transactions providing for partial payment through promissory notes rather than all-cash consideration. This created approximately $9.5 million in seller notes that would remain as estate assets to be collected post-closing.

Eight of the 12 western Washington locations went to Foss Audio and Tint, including stores in the Puget Sound region where Car Toys had operated for decades. The Texas stores, concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas, went to CTX Operating Company under longtime employees who had worked in the region.

In Colorado, seven of 10 stores found buyers, while the Boulder, Parker, and Broadway Denver locations closed without identified purchasers. The Broadway Denver location had operated in the Broadway Central retail center since at least 1999, representing one of the company's longest-tenured Colorado locations. These stores had their leases rejected, with the company abandoning the premises as part of the restructuring.

The 12 stores that closed without buyers had their leases rejected nunc pro tunc to August 24, 2025, when the premises were fully vacated. Gift cards and Groupon vouchers were no longer accepted after October 18, 2025, with limited redemption periods offered to customers. The WARN Act notice filed with Washington State Employment Security Department indicated that 177 workers faced potential displacement from store closures beginning October 20, 2025.

Contested Proceedings: Conversion, Trustee, and Conflict Allegations

In November 2025, the U.S. Trustee filed a Motion to Convert the case to chapter 7 and the Unsecured Creditors' Committee filed a Motion to Appoint a Trustee. Both motions cited concerns about insider dominance, conflicts of interest, and the estate's ability to fund administrative costs through plan confirmation.

The U.S. Trustee's motion, filed November 21, 2025, argued that the case no longer served a rehabilitative purpose. The estate projected net negative cash flow of $904,000 through January 2026, with remaining disbursements of $2.8 million against total receipts of only $968,000. The UST noted that the Debtor intended to liquidate rather than reorganize, making chapter 7 conversion more appropriate and economical than continued chapter 11 administration. With $855,000 budgeted for professional fees to confirm a plan, the UST questioned whether the estate could afford the chapter 11 process.

The Committee's motion, filed November 24, 2025, raised allegations about insider roles and counsel conflicts. Cairncross & Hempelmann, the Debtor's bankruptcy counsel, had prepared Brettler's secured loan documents in May 2023—creating what the Committee characterized as a disqualifying conflict when evaluating the validity of Brettler's security interest. The Court had already acknowledged during earlier proceedings that "someone other than Cairncross" needed to review the Brettler lien validity.

The Committee challenged the validity and extent of Brettler's secured claim. The $17+ million in loans had been extended while the company was "likely insolvent," with the November 2024 Webster Bank loan of $5 million coming when the company was "clearly already insolvent." The Committee alleged that Brettler received $2.5 million of the Webster loan proceeds directly, raising questions about whether the full amount should be included in his secured claim. The parties remained "multi-millions of dollars apart" on the treatment of Brettler's claim.

The Committee also raised concerns about the sale process. None of the lease locations owned by Brettler were closed; all were assumed by buyers. The decision-making throughout the case had allegedly "leaned in Mr. Brettler's favor," with the Debtor declining to challenge transactions that benefited its founder at the expense of unsecured creditors. A specific allegation highlighted operational failures: the Committee claimed that the Debtor had erroneously wired more than $360,000 to an unknown third party instead of paying an insurance premium.

The Debtor's Objection to Conversion, filed December 5, 2025, argued that conversion was unnecessary and harmful. The going-concern sales had been substantially completed. Remaining seller notes of approximately $9.5 million plus accounts receivable provided sufficient assets for administration. Chapter 11 would achieve higher collection rates on the seller notes than a chapter 7 trustee could obtain, given the need for ongoing relationships with buyers. If the Court found cause for concern about insider issues, the Debtor suggested an examiner would be preferable to a trustee.

December 2025 Settlement and Path to Plan Confirmation

The parties reached a settlement framework in December 2025 that established a consensual path forward.

The settlement, announced on December 11, 2025, addressed the conflicts raised in the contested motions. The Debtor and Committee agreed to serve as joint proponents of a liquidating plan. The parties negotiated a division of the seller note proceeds between the estate and Brettler.

The framework provides for a Plan Administrator to be selected through a collaborative process: Brettler will choose the administrator from a panel of candidates proposed by the Committee. The Plan Administrator will assess and manage potential D&O litigation claims for a period of time post-confirmation.

The settlement framework explicitly avoids litigation over two issues: the extent and validity of Brettler's secured claim, and potential chapter 5 avoidance actions against insiders.

Following the settlement announcement, the Court entered an Agreed Order Extending Exclusivity on December 12, 2025, establishing new deadlines. The plan filing deadline was extended to January 15, 2026, with the solicitation period running through March 18, 2026. A further DIP Amendment Order was approved on December 17, 2025.

The remaining estate assets consist primarily of seller notes totaling approximately $9.5 million, to be collected over time from the store buyers, plus accounts receivable and any recoveries from D&O claims that the Plan Administrator elects to pursue.

Professional Team and Case Administration

SierraConstellation Partners served as financial advisor, with Managing Director Philip Kaestle appointed as Chief Restructuring Officer.

Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S. served as bankruptcy counsel, with attorneys Steven M. Palmer, Bruce W. Leaverton, and Ryan R. Cole handling the chapter 11 proceedings.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, formed on September 3, 2025, consisted of two members: Lynn Brown of Automotive Data Solutions Inc. and Timi Jackson of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation. DBS Law served as Committee counsel, with Laurie M. Thornton leading the representation, while Dundon Advisers LLC provided financial advisory services to the Committee.

Stretto, Inc. was approved as claims and noticing agent in October 2025. The company listed an estimated 16,000+ creditors. The claims bar date was set for November 7, 2025.

Professional fees through October 2025 totaled approximately $828,000 across all retained professionals, with interim fee applications subject to a 20% holdback pending final approval.

Industry Context

Car Toys is one of 24 major U.S. retail bankruptcies year-to-date in 2025.

Retail closures extend beyond automotive specialty. Coresight expects approximately 15,000 U.S. stores to shutter in 2025—more than double the 7,325 closures recorded in 2024 and the highest since 2020's pandemic-driven 9,698 closures. Store openings remain steady at about 5,800.

Within the automotive aftermarket specifically, the overall U.S. automotive aftermarket expanded 8.6% to $391 billion in 2023. SEMA market research indicates that mobile electronics sales declined mainly in GPS navigation and sound systems—products that generated 70% of Car Toys' revenue. SEMA's future trends analysis shows that pickup trucks now account for a third of total specialty equipment sales, with crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) as the fastest-growing segment.

Best Buy's Geek Squad Autotechs provide Mobile Electronics Certified Professional installation services with a lifetime workmanship guarantee. Online competitors like Crutchfield and regional specialists like Foss Audio and Tint, Drive-In AutoSound, and Aspen Sound also compete in the category.

Washington's new Mini-WARN Act, effective July 27, 2025, requires 60 days advance notice for mass layoffs affecting 50 or more employees, with violations potentially resulting in 60 days of back pay and benefits per affected employee plus daily civil penalties of $500. Car Toys' October 2025 layoffs of 177 workers occurred under this new regulatory framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused Car Toys to file bankruptcy?

Car Toys cited two factors: the December 2022 shutdown of affiliate Wireless Advocates LLC, which had shared overhead costs with Car Toys, and declining aftermarket demand as OEM-installed audio systems captured 69% of the car audio market by 2024. Revenue declined from $127 million in 2021 to a projected $60 million in 2025.

Who bought Car Toys' stores?

Five buyers acquired 35 of Car Toys' 47 stores for approximately $14 million: Sound Distributions Inc. (Foss Audio and Tint) purchased 14 stores, CTX Operating Company acquired 12 Texas stores, Ride Ready Inc. bought 5 Oregon stores, Drive-In AutoSound purchased 2 Colorado Springs stores, and Selway Sound (Aspen Sound) acquired 2 Spokane stores.

What happened to Daniel Brettler's role?

Founder Daniel Brettler served as CEO, Chairman, and the company's sole secured creditor with claims exceeding $20 million. His dual role as operator and lender triggered U.S. Trustee and Committee motions, ultimately resolved through a December 2025 settlement establishing joint plan proponents.

What were the contested proceedings about?

The U.S. Trustee moved to convert the case to chapter 7, citing negative cash flow and the Debtor's liquidating intent. The Committee moved to appoint a trustee, alleging conflicts of interest including debtor counsel's prior work for Brettler and questions about the validity of Brettler's secured claim.

What was Wireless Advocates?

Wireless Advocates operated 535 cellphone kiosks at Costco locations and 65 at military bases, sharing infrastructure with Car Toys. When Costco declined to renew its partnership in December 2022, Wireless Advocates ceased operations immediately, forcing Car Toys to absorb full operational costs independently.

How much did Brettler lend to the company?

Brettler advanced more than $17 million in secured loans between May 2023 and August 2025, plus approximately $958,000 in accrued interest. Five days before bankruptcy, he paid off a $5 million Webster Bank line of credit, adding that obligation to his secured claim.

What is the expected recovery for unsecured creditors?

The December 2025 settlement provides for recovery from approximately $9.5 million in seller notes, though specific percentages were not disclosed. The settlement avoided litigation over Brettler's secured claim and potential avoidance actions.

How many employees lost jobs?

The WARN Act notice indicated 177 workers faced displacement from the 12 store closures beginning October 20, 2025. Employees at the 35 acquired stores were retained by the purchasing entities.

What is the timeline for case resolution?

The plan filing deadline was extended to January 15, 2026, with the solicitation period running through March 18, 2026.

Who served on the creditors committee?

The two-member Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors consisted of Lynn Brown of Automotive Data Solutions Inc. and Timi Jackson of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation. DBS Law served as Committee counsel and Dundon Advisers LLC provided financial advisory services.

Who is the claims agent for Car Toys?

Stretto, Inc. serves as the claims and noticing agent. The firm maintains the official claims register and distributes case notifications to creditors and parties in interest.

For more chapter 11 case coverage, visit the ElevenFlo bankruptcy blog.