02/15/2023

Boscov’s to open 50th store; first in West Virginia

Real Estate Editor & Manager – Chain Store Age

“We’re a family-owned business,” said CEO Jim Boscov. “We can make decisions to please the customer, not the stock market.”

The common word heard to describe department stores these days is “declining.” But one chain that dates back to 1918 is expanding.

That was the year that Russian immigrant Solomon Boscov opened the first Boscov’s store in Reading, Penn. This week his grandson Jim Boscov announced signing the lease on the family-owned chain’s 50^th store, at Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, W.Va.

The Meadowbrook Mall location will be Boscov’s first store in West Virginia. The company’s other 49 stores are found in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Ohio.

“We have the advantage of being a family-owned business. That means we can make decisions and work to please the customer, not the stock market,” said Jim Boscov, chairman and CEO. “We still believe in the traditional department store, where in one shopping trip, you can find everything you want.”

The latest Boscov’s is set to open this fall in a 151,000-sq.-ft. space at Meadowbrook, a Cafaro property. It will introduce the Mountain State to the merchandising philosophy that the company claims has kept it going for more than 100 years: fashions in both traditional labels and designer names, free gift wrap supplies, and a huge full-service candy department.

Boscov’s opened its first store outside of Pennsylvania at the Dover Mall in Delaware in 1982 and the company slowly continued expanding. often taking over the empty spaces of failed department stores.

In 2006, Solomon Boscov’s son Albert retired as CEO and was succeeded by his nephew Kenneth Lakin, who stepped up the pace. He acquired 10 stores vacated by Federated in 2008, but his timing was unfortunate. The Great Recession hit, the stores performed badly, and Boscov’s filed for Chapter 11.

Albert Boscov returned to the helm, pulled the chain out of bankruptcy protection, and slowly began rebuilding Boscov’s until he died at the age of 87 in 2017. Jim Boscov, his nephew, then assumed the chief role and slowed down the expansion pace with a goal of opening one new store a year.

The Boscov family has always been actively involved with non-profit organizations within the communities its stores serve, and has already announced plans for a special event to benefitting local charities at its Meadowbrook grand opening.

“North Central West Virginia is going to see some very aggressive retailing that combines fun, fashion, community partnership, entertainment and service with jaw-dropping pricing throughout the store,” Boscov said.

Based in Reading, Penn., Boscov’s is the largest family-owned department store chain in the United States.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 15, 2023

Contacts:

Joe Bell Jacob Stein

Director of Corporate Communications Executive Vice President

Cafaro Company Boscov’s Department Store, LLC

jbell@cafarocompany.com jstein@boscovs.com

330-743-7688 610-370-3808

724-730-4532 (Mobile)

Joseph Thomas

Marketing Director

Meadowbrook Mall

marketingdirector@meadowbrookmall.com

304-842-5441, Ext. 102

Boscov’s coming to Meadowbrook Mall

Jim Boscov, Chairman and CEO of Boscov’s, is pleased to announce that an all-new edition of his family’s iconic department store will open the company’s 50^th store, it’s first in the state of West Virginia, at Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport. The store will open in the fall of 2023. The new 151,000 square foot Boscov’s will be the largest department store in the region. Boscov’s will combine, reimagine and completely remodel spaces previously occupied by Sears and a dozen other adjacent mall stores bringing North Central West Virginia communities a traditional Boscov’s store with a modern design!

Based in Reading, PA, Boscov’s operates 49 stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Ohio. It is the nation’s largest family owned department store chain. Boscov’s is now celebrating its 109^th year as a full-line, full-service department store and is known as much for making shopping fun as it is for offering the best brands at the best prices with incredible service. Over 250 Boscov’s co-workers will offer unique services and provide extras, such as free gift wrap supplies regardless of the amount of the purchase, a year round military discount, a gift registry for every occasion, curbside pickup and a hassle free return policy. Shop and learn more at www.boscovs.com.

Best known for its unique retailing style, Boscov’s combines a vast assortment of fashion merchandise that includes both traditional labels and leading designer names. In addition to the wide range of departments normally found in department stores, Boscov’s also features departments such as toys, furniture, an exciting gift department, a huge full service candy department and much more.

“We have the advantage of being a family-owned business. That means we can make decisions and work to please the customer; not the stock market,” Jim Boscov said. “We still believe in the traditional department store, where in one shopping trip, you can find everything you want. North Central West Virginia is going to see some very aggressive retailing that combines fun, fashion, community partnership, entertainment and service with jaw dropping pricing throughout the store.” To join Mr. Boscov on a video tour, click on this link: https://youtu.be/iDUo4z85BXs

As America’s largest family-owned department store company, family matters to Boscov’s. Year-round, Boscov’s is actively involved with local non-profit organizations. Last year, these efforts resulted in over $2.5 million raised for the communities it serves. It is important that fundraising efforts remain within those communities. A special event to benefit local charities in the North Central West Virginia area will take place in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the Meadowbrook Mall Boscov’s. More details about this event will be forthcoming.

The Meadowbrook Mall Complex is located on Interstate 79, Exit 121, in Bridgeport, West Virginia. It has been serving the people of North Central since 1982. To learn more, visit www.meadowbrookmall.com. Meadowbrook Mall is owned and managed in association with Cafaro-affiliated companies, based in Niles, Ohio. One of the nation’s largest privately held shopping center developers, the Cafaro organization has developed more than 50 million square feet of commercial real estate in 14 states. For more information on the Cafaro organization, log onto www.cafarocompany.com.

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Tag: Boscov’s