BLOOMINGTON - After a decade at Bloomington's Eastland Mall, clothing retailer Eddie Bauer will not renew its lease and plans to close Jan. 24.

Signs went up this weekend announcing the store closure. The store employs about 27.

Eddie Bauer spokeswoman Anita Woo said Monday the Eastland closing is part of the company's annual review of leases.

"We look at each of our stores in the U.S. and Canada to determine whether we should review existing leases," Woo said in a prepared statement. "Leases are evaluated on several different levels including, but not limited to, the placement of new stores, current store sales and square foot performance, the competitive make-up of the retail environment, market trends and overall economics."

Woo would not discuss whether the store would consider relocating to the Shoppes at College Hills in Normal.

"That's something we can't comment on at this time," Woo said.

The Bloomington Eddie Bauer store opened in 1997 in a 6,500-square-foot location in the Bergner's wing.

The store is among 20 stores in Illinois and 377 in the U.S. and Canada, according to company information.

Eastland Mall General Manager Katie Altrichter referred all comment about the store closing to the company.

Meanwhile, Dawn Shipman, a spokeswoman for the Shoppes at College Hills, said she is not aware of any plans to move the retailer into Normal.

"We'd love to have them but we don't have any information about them coming here," she said.

Eddie Bauer is based in Bellevue, Wash. It was established in 1920 in Seattle and it sells casual sportswear and accessories for men and women. In addition to its retail stores, Eddie Bauer has online and catalog sales.