Boscov's

Last updated

Boscov's Department Store, LLC.
Boscov's
Company type
Industry Retail
Founded1914(110 years ago) (1914) in Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
FounderSolomon Boscov
Headquarters
4630 Perkiomen Avenue Exeter Township, Pennsylvania
,
United States
Number of locations
50 (2023)
Area served
 Northeastern United States
Key people
Jim Boscov, Chairman & CEO
Albert Boscov (former Chairman & CEO)
ProductsClothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, candy, household goods, toys/games, decor, small appliances
Revenue US$ 1.5 billion (2021)
OwnerBoscov family
Number of employees
8,300 (2021)
Website www.boscovs.com

Boscov's Inc. is a family-owned department store with fifty locations in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, West Virginia and Rhode Island. Twenty-six of these stores are located in Pennsylvania. [1]

Contents

Corporate headquarters are located in Exeter Township, Pennsylvania, near Reading. The company chairman is Jim Boscov, who took over after his uncle Albert Boscov retired. [2]

History

Solomon "Sol" Boscov was of Jewish descent. He emigrated from Russia to Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1911. [3] He had $1.37 in cash (equal to $43.03 today) on arrival in the United States. [3] He worked as a traveling salesman with an initial $8 worth of merchandise. Because he spoke Yiddish, he was able to converse with people in Berks County who spoke Pennsylvania Dutch. [3] Boscov's fortunes changed in 1914 when he opened the first Boscov's store at 9th and Pike streets in Reading. [4] [5] A Pennsylvania Historical Marker commemorating Solomon Boscov stands at the site of the original store. [6]

Boscov's began expanding in the Reading suburbs during the 1960s, with the Boscov's West store in Sinking Spring opening in November 1962 and the Boscov's North store at the Reading Fairgrounds in Muhlenberg Township opening in August 1965.[ citation needed ] The Boscov's East store along 9th Street in Reading was destroyed by fire in February 1967 and was replaced by a new Boscov's East store in Exeter Township in November 1967.[ citation needed ] The Boscov's West store was destroyed by fire in November 1967 and reopened in November 1968. [7]

By 1968, Boscov's had five stores, 2,200 workers, and annual sales exceeding $50 million. [8] Solomon Boscov retired and was succeeded by his son Albert "Albie" Boscov as head of the company in 1960. [8] [9] The first Boscov's location outside of Berks County opened at the Lebanon Valley Mall in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in August 1972. [7] Boscov's bought Fowler, Dick and Walker, the Boston Store in 1980. One of Wilkes-Barre's last remaining downtown department stores, it was also Boscov's first multi-story store. [10] [11]

Boscov's opened its first location outside of Pennsylvania at the Dover Mall in Dover, Delaware, in August 1982. [7] Boscov's first entered the Philadelphia market in the late 1980s by opening Ports of the World stores. [12] These stores would later be re-branded as Boscov's sometime in the mid-1990s.

In 1983, Boscov's leased the Fowler's department store building and opened the next year in downtown Binghamton, New York. [13]

In August 2002, Boscov's opened a store at the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing, replacing a Strawbridge's store. [7] As a result, the Boscov's West store in Sinking Spring closed. [14]

In 2006, Albert Boscov, the son of Solomon Boscov, retired and his nephew Kenneth Lakin became chairman and chief executive. Lakin led an aggressive expansion of the chain, opening 10 new stores by 2008. Boscov's acquired these locations from Federated Department Stores following the merger with The May Department Stores Company. [7] The new stores opened just prior to the 2008 economic downturn and in August 2008, Boscov's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [15] Albert Boscov came out of retirement and regained control of the company. As part of the bankruptcy, 10 stores were shuttered, two of which were reopened. [16] The company emerged from bankruptcy in September 2009. [17]

Number of Boscov's locations by state
StateNo.
of locations
Connecticut 2
Delaware 3
Maryland 4
New Jersey 8
New York 4
Ohio 2
Pennsylvania 26
Rhode Island 1
West Virginia 1

Albert Boscov died from pancreatic cancer on February 10, 2017, at the age of eighty-seven. [18] The chain is now headed by his nephew, Jim Boscov. [2]

Boscov's continuing success makes it regarded as somewhat of an "outlier" because many department store retailers had begun pulling back to a degree on brick-and-mortar formats. Boscov's saw record sales of $1.2 billion in 2017. Since 2009, the chain continues to expand and opened its 47th store in Milford, Connecticut, in October 2018. Boscov's plans to continue to open one store per year and has invested in older stores by renovating them. [2] Boscov's announced plans to move into the Providence Place mall in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2019. [19] The store opened on September 26, 2019.

In 2020, Boscov's announced plans to open at Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio. [20] The store opened on October 7, 2021, a year late due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Boscov's announced that a store will open at the Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, West Virginia, in the later part of the year; this will be Boscov's 50th store and first location in the state. [21] The 50th store located in West Virginia opened on October 7, 2023. [22]

Civic affairs and charitable giving

During the 1970s, Boscov's launched its "Friends Helping Friends" program, an annual fundraising event which has raised roughly a million dollars each year for non-profit organizations. [23] [24]

Jazz festival

Boscov's sponsors the annual "Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest" which draws 35,000 to 40,000 people to the Reading area. [25] [26]

Thanksgiving Day Parade

When Gimbels went out of business in 1986, WPVI-TV and Boscov's took over the sponsorship of the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. Boscov's remained a co-sponsor until 2007.

The Boscov's in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, was used to represent the fictional department store Illustra in the 1987 film Mannequin .

Boscov's is mentioned in the Season 3 episode Kimmy Steps on a Crack! of the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt . [27]

It is also mentioned in NBC's The Office , Season 5, Episode 25, “Casual Friday”.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading, Pennsylvania</span> City in Pennsylvania, United States

Reading is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. Reading is located in the southeastern part of the state and is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area, which had 420,152 residents in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford Valley Mall</span> Shopping mall in Langhorne, Pennsylvania

The Oxford Valley Mall is a two-story shopping mall, managed and 85.5 percent-owned by the Simon Property Group, that is located next to the Sesame Place amusement park near Langhorne in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Its department stores are JCPenney and Macy's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dover Mall</span> Shopping mall in Delaware, United States

The Dover Mall is a shopping mall located on U.S. Route 13 in Dover, Delaware. The anchor stores are Boscov's, Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, and AMC Theatres. There are 2 additional anchor spaces, with one serving as a Macy's fulfillment center since the 2020 holiday season and a vacant anchor spot last occupied by Sears. It is a one-level, enclosed regional mall that is managed by Simon Property Group, who owns 68.1% of it. At 927,414 square feet (86,160 m2), it is the third biggest mall in Delaware, boasting 83 shops and a food court.

The Beaver Valley Mall is a regional shopping mall located in Center Township, Pennsylvania, serving Beaver County within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It is owned by the Namdar Realty Group. The mall features Boscov's, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Rural King, and a U-Haul storage center. It is vastly considered by locals to be a dead mall, with many residents opting for the Ross Park Mall in Ross Township or The Mall at Robinson in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neshaminy Mall</span> Shopping mall in Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Neshaminy Mall is a 1,025,297-square-foot (95,253 m2) shopping mall located at U.S. Route 1 and Bristol Road in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. The mall was opened in 1968 and was the sixth interior mall constructed in Greater Philadelphia. The Neshaminy Mall is anchored by Boscov's and AMC Theatres and has 40 shops and eateries including a food court that was opened in 1989 and retailers including Barnes & Noble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exton Square Mall</span> Shopping mall

Exton Square Mall is a shopping mall located in the Exton, Pennsylvania in West Whiteland Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The mall features a parking garage and food court. It is located at the crossroads of Chester County at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 Business and Pennsylvania Route 100. The mall is anchored by Macy's and Boscov's retail stores and a Round One Entertainment, an arcade and bowling center. It also contains dozens of smaller stores and a food court.

Albert Boscov was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the long-time head of Boscov's Department Stores and served as the company's chairman and CEO until retiring in 2015. In 2009, Boscov led a buyout of the chain in order to rescue it from bankruptcy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deptford Mall</span> Shopping mall in Deptford New Jersey, US

Deptford Mall is a major shopping mall in Deptford Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Owned and managed by Macerich, it is the county's only indoor regional shopping center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TownMall of Westminster</span> Shopping mall

TownMall of Westminster, formerly Cranberry Mall, is a shopping mall located in Westminster, Maryland, United States on Maryland Route 140, 30 miles northwest of Baltimore. Owned by Westminster Mall LLC, and managed by The Woodmont Company. The mall features more than 20 stores, including a food court and Movie Theater. Belk, Boscov's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and RC Theaters are the mall's anchors. It's the only enclosed regional shopping center in Carroll County. The mall has recently been wired for fiber internet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moorestown Mall</span> Shopping mall in New Jersey, United States

Moorestown Mall is a shopping mall in Moorestown, New Jersey, owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. The mall has over 90 stores and is anchored by Boscov's, Five Below, HomeSense, Michaels, Planet Fitness, Sierra Trading Post, & Turn 7 Liquidators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmer Park Mall</span> Shopping mall in Pennsylvania, U.S.

Palmer Park Mall is an indoor one-story shopping mall of 457,734 square feet (42,524.9 m2) located in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The mall is located at the intersection of PA Route 248 and Park Avenue in Palmer Township, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Meeting Mall</span> Shopping mall in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania

The Plymouth Meeting Mall is a 948,000 square feet (88,100 m2) shopping mall that is located in the community of Plymouth Meeting in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Center City, Philadelphia.

Coventry Mall is a shopping mall in North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, located at the interchange of Route 100 and Route 724. The mall is anchored by Boscov's, Kohl's, Gabe's, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkshire Mall (Pennsylvania)</span> Shopping mall in Pennsylvania, United States

Berkshire Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, a suburb to the west of Reading in Berks County. Berkshire Mall is accessible from US 222/US 422 at the Paper Mill Road interchange or the State Hill Road interchange. The main entrances to the mall are located along Woodland Road or State Hill Road. The mall first opened on February 10, 1970 and currently features Boscov's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairgrounds Square Mall</span> Shopping mall in Pennsylvania, United States

Fairgrounds Square Mall was an enclosed shopping mall located just north of Reading, Pennsylvania in Muhlenberg Township. It was anchored by Boscov's, Burlington Coat Factory, and Limerick Furniture. Smaller stores included Super Shoes, Planet Fitness, an AMC Classic movie theater, and Golden Eagle Comics. The mall, which once had 75 stores, had 14 stores and many vacant storefronts before it closed in 2018. It was located on 5th Street Highway, U.S. 222 Business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meadowbrook Mall</span> Shopping mall in West Virginia, United States

Meadowbrook Mall is a regional shopping mall in Bridgeport, West Virginia. It was built in late 1982 by the Cafaro Company of Youngstown, Ohio. The original architecture and engineering was done by the Keeva J. Kekst company. The mall includes four anchor stores, JCPenney, Target, Marshalls, and a Cinemark theater, with a fifth anchor on the way as Boscov's is opening in 2023. Former anchors include Elder-Beerman, Ames, Murphy's Mart, Stone & Thomas, The Bon-Ton, Sears, Montgomery Ward, and Joann. Marshalls was added in 2008. ULTA Beauty opened here in 2015. The mall has a gross leasable area of 849,206 square feet (78,894 m2) and 109 stores, classifying it as super-regional according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. In 2023, Boscov's announced that a store will open at the mall in the later part of the year, replacing the former Sears and nearby mall stores. This will be Boscov's 50th store and first location in West Virginia.

Fairlane Village Mall is a shopping mall located just outside of Pottsville, Pennsylvania off Route 61. It is anchored by Boscov's, Dunham's Sports, Kohl's, Michaels, and TJ Maxx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanon Valley Mall</span> Shopping mall in Pennsylvania, United States

The Lebanon Valley Mall is a shopping mall that is located on the north side of U.S. Route 422 just west of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States. Opened on September 10, 1975, the mall features Boscov's, Hobby Lobby, Planet Fitness, and PriceRite as its anchor stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danville Mall</span> Shopping mall in Danville, Virginia

Danville Mall, formerly Piedmont Mall, is an enclosed shopping mall in Danville, Virginia. Opened in 1984, it is managed by Hull Property Group. The mall's anchor stores are Belk and Dunham's Sports, with three vacant anchors last occupied by Boscov's, JCPenney, and Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fowler, Dick & Walker</span>

Fowler, Dick & Walker, later known as Fowler's, was a chain of department stores, also called The Boston Store. They started business as a very small dry goods store in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1879, occupying space in another establishment at 120 South Main Street. The founders were George Fowler, Alexander Dick and Gilbert Walker. They had previous employment experience in the dry goods business in Connecticut.

References

  1. ↑ "About Boscov's Department Stores". Boscov's. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Allabaugh, Denise (March 25, 2018). "Boscov's doing retail right". The Scranton Times-Tribune . Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Charles Schuyler Castner. Berksiana. 1976, p.321.
  4. ↑ Berksiana. Charles Schuyler Castner. 1976. Page 319
  5. ↑ Kellar, Travis (December 2014). "Boscov's transformed from general merchandise store to department cha". Times Leader. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  6. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Boscov's history, highlights". Reading Eagle. September 18, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. 1 2 Berksiana. Charles Schuyler Castner. 1976. Page 323
  9. ↑ "About Boscov's Department Stores". Boscovs.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  10. ↑ Allabugh, Denise (December 3, 2017). "Grandchildren of retail legend Boscov publish book in his memory". Standard~Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 15, 2018. he purchased Fowler, Dick and Walker, the Boston Store ... in 1980
  11. ↑ "Our History". The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts . Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  12. ↑ Milford, Maureen (July 12, 1987). "Boscov's Evades Trends". The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ "20 Oct 1983, 5 - Press and Sun-Bulletin at Newspapers.com".
  14. ↑ Negley, Erin (March 27, 2009). "Plans submitted for former Boscov's West site in Sinking Spring". Reading Eagle. Retrieved October 15, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ Burns, Patrick (August 5, 2008). "Retailer Boscov's goes bankrupt". LNP Media Group. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Boscov's will reopen at White Marsh Mall". May 17, 2012.
  17. ↑ Panaritis, Maria (September 18, 2009). "Boscov's emerges from bankruptcy". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Boscov's chairman Albert Boscov dies at 87". The Baltimore Sun. Associated Press. February 11, 2017. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  19. ↑ List, Madeleine (October 9, 2018). "Nordstrom to close store at Providence Place; Boscov's set to enter space". The Providence Journal . Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Boscov's Inc. department store coming to Eastwood Mall". WKBN.com. January 6, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  21. ↑ Staff (February 15, 2023). "Boscov's announces new store coming to Bridgeport, West Virginia's Meadowbrook Mall". WVNews. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Boscov’s officially opens in Bridgeport", Metro News, October 7, 2023
  23. ↑ Mallett, Karin. "Boscov’s holds annual ‘Friends Helping Friends’ fundraiser." Allentown, Pennsylvania: WFMZ-TV, October 19, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Boscov’s sets goal of $1M for charity with Friends Helping Friends event Wednesday." Martins Ferry, Ohio: The Times Leader, October 18, 2022.
  25. ↑ Long, Jeremy (April 22, 2018). "The 28th Annual Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest drew 35,000 to 40,000 people to the area". Reading Eagle. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  26. ↑ Vasil, Jim (April 4, 2018). "2018 Berks Jazz Fest taking shape ahead of opening night". WFMZ-TV.
  27. ↑ "'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt': Follow Our Recaps as You Binge Season 3". Entertainment Weekly .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.