Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EBHI), the once-proud seller of expensive, sporty outerwear, today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the latest retail chain destroyed by the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression (Wall Street Journal, subscription required).

Under the terms of the bankruptcy, Eddie Bauer has agreed to sell its assets to CCMP Capital Advisors LLC., a private equity firm, for $202 million in cash. The investor, which supported debtor-in-possession financing of $100 million, plans to retain most of Eddie Bauer's employees and continue to operate most of its 371 stores.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

Businesswise, it's no real competition between Subway and Quiznos. Subway, the number 1 sub sandwich chain, claims to have more than 29,000 locations in 86 countries, earning more than $11 billion in 2007. Quiznos, on the other hand, has more than 5,000 locations in 20 countries, earning $130 million in 2004, making it a distant number 2. In fact, Subway is the third largest fast-food chain globally after Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc.) with 34,000 locations and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), with 31,000 locations.

Both Subway and Quiznos are privately owned, franchise fast-food chains. While Quiznos is a limited liability company controlled by chairman Rick Schaden and his family, Subway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Doctor's Associates, Inc., a company founded in 1965 by Fred De Luca and Dr. Peter Buck specifically to oversee the Subway chain of restaurants.

Subway menus vary by store. For instance, its restaurants in Muslim countries serve Halal menu, and Subway has kosher restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and a suburb of Cleveland. All locations feature submarine sandwiches, ranging from four-inch "mini subs" to its three-foot giant subs. Popular sandwiches include Turkey Breast, Italian BMT, and the Subway Club. All of Quiznos' sandwiches are served toasted, and its best-sellers include the Classic Italian, the Mesquite Chicken with Bacon, the Prime Rib Cheesesteak, the Chicken Carbonara. Last fall Quzinos introduced flatbread "sammies."

Mmm, mmm, mmm . . . furry! First there were rats spotted at a Manhattan KFC/Taco Bell, owned by Yum Brands (NYSE: YUM). Not to be outdone by its east-coast rivals, a downtown Chicago-area quick eatery (a Quiznos, to be precise) was invaded by a coyote.

Patrons of the sandwich shop, open for business when the befanged friend burst onto the scene, were surprised to see the animal stroll in and recline in a cooler stocked with cold beverages. The manager was relieved to note that "It wasn't aggressive at all . . . it was just looking around."

Veterinarians will examine the animal and, if he is found to be healthy, release him into the wild.

Quiznos is the number-two sandwich chain in the world (trailing Subway), parented by privately held Quiznos Master LLC.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.