COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5311

Variety Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

70companies1670–1986founding years60still active8no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedHudson's Bay Company
1670
FoundedBloomingdale's Inc.
1872
FoundedMontgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated
1889
FoundedPeebles Inc.
1891
FoundedMeier & Frank Co.
1893
FoundedSaks Holdings, Inc.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedYounkers, Inc.
1904
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedCrowley, Milner & Company
1909
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
FoundedMercantile Stores Company, Inc.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedProffitt's, Inc.
1919
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedBhs plc
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedEl Corte Inglés Group
1940
FoundedSears Roebuck de México, S.A. de C.V.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedFNAC
1954
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedPubco Corporation
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedDayton Hudson Corporation
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedTVI, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedGrupo Carso, S.A. de C.V.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Hudson's Bay Company →
Active · founded 1670 · Canada
Canada's number one department store retailer, Hudson's Bay Company, is also Canada's oldest corporation.
Hudson's Bay Company →
Active · founded 1670 · Canada
Canada's number one department store retailer, Hudson's Bay Company, is also Canada's oldest corporation.
Bloomingdale's Inc. →
Active · founded 1872
Bloomingdale's Inc.
Bloomingdale's Inc. →
Active · founded 1872
Bloomingdale's Inc.
Kaufhof Warenhaus AG →
Active · founded 1879 · Federal Republic of Germany
Kaufhof Warenhaus AG, the group of retailing and service companies formerly known as Kaufhof Holding AG, was born from…
Kaufhof Warenhaus AG →
Active · founded 1879 · Federal Republic of Germany
Kaufhof Warenhaus AG, the group of retailing and service companies formerly known as Kaufhof Holding AG, was born from…
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated →
Defunct · founded 1889
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated is a national retailer with more than 400 stores in 43 states.
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated →
Defunct · founded 1889
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated is a national retailer with more than 400 stores in 43 states.
The Bon Marché, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
A venerable department store operator for more than a century, The Bon Marché, Inc.
The Bon Marché, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
A venerable department store operator for more than a century, The Bon Marché, Inc.
Peebles Inc. →
Active · founded 1891
With 65 stores in ten Mid-Atlantic states ranging from South Carolina to New York, Peebles Inc.
Peebles Inc. →
Active · founded 1891
With 65 stores in ten Mid-Atlantic states ranging from South Carolina to New York, Peebles Inc.
AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG) →
Active · founded 1892 · Germany
Active throughout Germany and in the Netherlands, AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG) is one of…
AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG) →
Active · founded 1892 · Germany
Active throughout Germany and in the Netherlands, AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG) is one of…
Meier & Frank Co. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the oldest retail chains in the Pacific Northwest, Meier & Frank Co.
Meier & Frank Co. →
Active · founded 1893
One of the oldest retail chains in the Pacific Northwest, Meier & Frank Co.
Marks and Spencer p.l.c. →
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Marks and Spencer p.l.c. →
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Saks Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
The name "Saks" is known throughout the retail world, synonymous with luxurious haute couture.
Saks Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
The name "Saks" is known throughout the retail world, synonymous with luxurious haute couture.
Gottschalks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Gottschalks, Inc.
Gottschalks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Gottschalks, Inc.
Younkers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Younkers, Inc.
Younkers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Younkers, Inc.
Hankyu Corporation →
Active · founded 1907 · Japan
Hankyu Corporation is one of Japan's largest private railway operators.
Hankyu Corporation →
Active · founded 1907 · Japan
Hankyu Corporation is one of Japan's largest private railway operators.
Crowley, Milner & Company →
Active · founded 1909
Crowley, Milner & Company is the owner and operator of ten different specialty department stores throughout the eastern…
Crowley, Milner & Company →
Active · founded 1909
Crowley, Milner & Company is the owner and operator of ten different specialty department stores throughout the eastern…
J.C. Penney Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1913 · www.jcpenney.com
With over 1,200 stores in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Chile, J.C.
J.C. Penney Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1913 · www.jcpenney.com
With over 1,200 stores in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Chile, J.C.
Mercantile Stores Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1914
Mercantile Stores Company, Inc., a traditional department store retailer, operates over 100 primarily fashion apparel…
Mercantile Stores Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1914
Mercantile Stores Company, Inc., a traditional department store retailer, operates over 100 primarily fashion apparel…
Harcourt General, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1919
Through its core publishing arm, Harcourt General, Inc.
Harcourt General, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1919
Through its core publishing arm, Harcourt General, Inc.
Proffitt's, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1919
Under the dynamic leadership of R.
Proffitt's, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1919
Under the dynamic leadership of R.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Bhs plc →
Active · founded 1933 · England
Known for more than 50 years as British Home Stores, Bhs plc ranks among the United Kingdom's largest department store…
Bhs plc →
Active · founded 1933 · England
Known for more than 50 years as British Home Stores, Bhs plc ranks among the United Kingdom's largest department store…
Jacobson Stores Inc. →
Active · founded 1939
Jacobson Stores Inc.
Jacobson Stores Inc. →
Active · founded 1939
Jacobson Stores Inc.
El Corte Inglés Group →
Active · founded 1940 · Spain
El Corte Inglés, S.A.
El Corte Inglés Group →
Active · founded 1940 · Spain
El Corte Inglés, S.A.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Sears Roebuck de México, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1945 · Mexico
Sears Roebuck de México, S.A.
Sears Roebuck de México, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1945 · Mexico
Sears Roebuck de México, S.A.
Caldor Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Caldor Inc.
Caldor Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Caldor Inc.
FNAC →
Active · founded 1954 · France
The FNAC chain of retail stores is France's leading purveyor of what the company refers to as "cultural goods." The…
FNAC →
Active · founded 1954 · France
The FNAC chain of retail stores is France's leading purveyor of what the company refers to as "cultural goods." The…
Hills Stores Company →
Active · founded 1957
A pioneer in the discount store industry, Hills Stores Company is the eighth-largest general merchandise discount…
Hills Stores Company →
Active · founded 1957
A pioneer in the discount store industry, Hills Stores Company is the eighth-largest general merchandise discount…
Pubco Corporation →
Active · founded 1958
Pubco Corporation is a diversified company with an unusual mix of interests.
Pubco Corporation →
Active · founded 1958
Pubco Corporation is a diversified company with an unusual mix of interests.
Stein Mart Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Stein Mart Inc.
Stein Mart Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Stein Mart Inc.
Dayton Hudson Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Dayton Hudson Corporation operates the well-known Target discount stores, Mervyn's moderately priced retail stores, and…
Dayton Hudson Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Dayton Hudson Corporation operates the well-known Target discount stores, Mervyn's moderately priced retail stores, and…
Venture Stores Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Venture Stores Inc.
Venture Stores Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Venture Stores Inc.
TVI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
TVI, Inc.
TVI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
TVI, Inc.
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
Grupo Carso, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1980 · Mexico
Grupo Carso, S.A.
Grupo Carso, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1980 · Mexico
Grupo Carso, S.A.
Storehouse PLC →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
With its British Home Stores (Bhs) and Mothercare chains, Storehouse PLC ranks among the United Kingdom's top ten…
Storehouse PLC →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
With its British Home Stores (Bhs) and Mothercare chains, Storehouse PLC ranks among the United Kingdom's top ten…
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