One of Florida’s largest and oldest companies, the Bealls national department store chain, is growing despite economic challenges that have changed the dynamics of retail.
Bealls started from humble beginnings on Bradenton’s Old Main Street in 1915, when 22-year-old founder Robert M. Beall opened the Dollar Limit store .
Since then, Bealls Inc. has grown to 658 stores, including Bealls Florida, bealls, Home Centric, Rugged Earth Outfitters and Reel Legends, in 23 states.
Bealls Inc. has plans to open 22 more stores this fiscal year.
The Bradenton-based company has 15,000 emplpoyees across the company. In Manatee County alone, there are 2,300 workers in its retail stores, distribution center and corporate office.
Here’s what to know about the company and the changes ahead:
Bealls is expanding
The Great Recession in 2007-2008 dealt a blow to businesses. Online retail — e-commerce — experienced a faster recovery than brick-and-mortar retail stores.
In 2020, Bealls stores were closed for a month at the height of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.