Bealls (Texas)

Bealls IPA: /ˈbɛlz/ is a United States chain of department stores headquartered in Texas. It is owned by Stage Stores Inc.^[1] The chain overlaps with the Florida-based Bealls chain, although the two are not related. In markets where the two chains overlap, the Florida chain operates as Burkes Outlet instead.^[2]

Historic timeline

1923: First store opened by brothers Archie and Robbie (and later, Willie) Beall in Henderson, Texas.^[3] 1926: Second store opened in Nacogdoches.^[4] 1927: Third store opened in Mt. Pleasant.^[5] 1930: Store count of the chain had reached seven. The Beall brothers had emerged winning bidders of J.L. Douglas, a merchant in Jacksonville. This move would establish Jacksonville as a permanent home office for the growing chain (as well as its eighth store). The brothers decide to file for incorporation of the chain.^[6] 1935: Home office shifts within downtown Jacksonville to the Mayfield Building.^[7] 1936: The Jacksonville store is moved from the old Douglas building to a location at Main and Commerce Streets, where it would remain for nearly 50 years.^[8] 1940: The Bealls had 15 stores by this time.^[9] 1950: Despite World War II, store count had grown to 19.^[10] 1957: More growth led to 38 locations open. Bealls shifted their home office and warehousing to a new location east of downtown Jacksonville, on East Rusk Street.^[11] 1960s: Store interiors and operations were modernized chain-wide. Shoppers would find more name-brand items by this time.^[12] 1972: Bealls had found its way beyond the borders of their home state for the first time, with 1 store in Oklahoma to go with its 60 Texas locations. Bealls was serving most parts of Texas with the exceptions of the Panhandle and far west Texas. Three of Robbie's sons found themselves in high-level spots in the company by this time; Royce and Ray were now vice-presidents and R.G. was serving as president of Bealls.^[13] 1983: Buying operations were moved to Irving, Texas in the prominent Las Colinas area. This move would ensure close proximity to many manufacturer's representatives of the apparel industry; most had local offices and showrooms in the Dallas Market Center area. 1983-1984: A loss for downtown Jacksonville was a gain for the city's south side, as Bealls decided, after nearly 50 years, to move to a new store location along growing South Jackson Street. 1985-1986: New warehouse and distribution center took shape on Jacksonville's north side, with larger capacity and capability to serve the growing chain. This site replaced the warehousing operation behind the home office complex east of downtown. 1988-1989: After realizing their children weren't interested in being part of a succession plan to run the company, Royce and Ray Beall announced the sale of Bealls to Bain Venture Capital and other investors. This group, in turn, combined the operations of Bealls with those of Houston-based chain Palais Royal (also bought out by Bain, etc. at the same time) and formed a new umbrella company, Specialty Retailers, Inc. The combined company would be based in Houston.^{[14] [15] [16] [17] [18]} This turn of events stunned Jacksonville, whose residents and those in the business community there considered Bealls to be a good neighbor and corporate citizen. Jacksonville would be spared a complete loss, as the new distribution center would stay open, and the credit department of the combined company would be located at the previous Bealls office east of downtown. Also remaining would be the former flagship store of the company, where it still remains, on South Jackson. Early-mid 1990s: The combined company would come to encompass another name, Stage Stores, and a much broader number of stores in many parts of the U.S. 1997: Stage Stores Inc. acquired the Oklahoma-based C.R. Anthony chain, converting some C.R. Anthony stores to Stage and others to Bealls.^[19] 2001: The company declares bankruptcy and files to reorganize^[20]; Stage emerged from bankruptcy protection 4 months later^[21]. 2002: Stage goes public on the Nasdaq Stock Market.^[22] 2003: Peebles, a U.S. east coast-based chain, is acquired by Stage.^[23] 2006: B.C. Moore & Sons, a chain in the southeastern U.S., is acquired in February.^[24] Stage opts to move its stock listing to the NYSE in March.^[25] 2007: Bealls and the other 3 brands now are represented in 33 states and have more than 650 locations total.^[26]

References

External links

• Official website
• Brief history of Bealls (covering the years 1926-1972)
• Former location in Gilmer, Texas (tile mosaic in front of entrance containing the chain's original name, '3 Beall Brothers 3')