Bealls Inc. Celebrates 110 Years of Family-Owned Retail Leadership
BRADENTON, Fla. – Bealls Inc. hits a remarkable milestone this month: 110 years as a family-owned and operated retailer. Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Bradenton, the company now operates 660 stores across 22 states under the bealls, Bealls Florida, and Home Centric banners. Bealls also maintains distribution centers in Florida and Texas, with buying offices in Florida, New York, and Los Angeles.
Chairman and CEO Matt Beall, a fourth-generation leader, has led the company since 2019. His father, Bob Beall, is a retail legend who operated the company for four decades. Bob’s father Egbert Beall also operated the business for decades, as did Egbert’s father and Bealls founder Robert M. Beall.
“Fewer than one percent of companies reach the 100-year mark — especially as a family business. Reaching 110 years is a testament to our people, our culture, our guests, and their loyalty to our brand. I think being one of the last remaining American family retail businesses means a lot to people. In the last few decades, most have sold out to larger public companies or have gone bankrupt. We continue to show up and work every day with a focus on guest experience, but we also focus on associate experience. Culture and the way we treat people is very important to us,” said Matt Beall, chairman and CEO, Bealls Inc.
A Legacy of Adaptation
Bealls’ story began with Robert M. Beall’s first store, the “Dollar Limit”, in 1915. It became Bealls Department Store in 1946. From the Great Depression to global conflicts and economic shifts, Bealls Inc. continued to grow its Florida footprint.
In the 1980s, the company entered the off-price space. Over the decades, it expanded nationwide, launched eCommerce and private-label design, and opened key distribution and buying centers. In 2024 alone, Bealls Inc. grew by 24 stores and opened a new buying office in New York City, further solidifying its national presence.
Today, the company employs over 14,000 associates and is redefining value retail through its off-price model.
Meeting the Moment
As consumer behavior evolves, Bealls Inc. has leaned into data-driven innovation and guest engagement. Its off-price transformation aims to provide top-name brands at unbeatable value, particularly important as shoppers prioritize affordability like never before.
“Our guests want quality and value, and they deserve both,” Beall noted. “By delivering brand-name merchandise at low prices through outstanding store associates, we earn guest loyalty.”
That loyalty is reinforced by a streamlined rewards program: $5 back for every $100 spent and a 20% birthday bonus—benefits guests can use on their terms, without having to keep up with constantly changing sales. That means getting name brands and the best prices every day at a bealls, Bealls Florida, or Home Centric.
To better understand and engage its customer base, Bealls also introduced an ambassador app and digital platforms that collect real-time guest insights. “Our guests love to discover what’s new and on-trend — shopping is their escape,” Beall added. “We aim to make every store experience personal, intentional and joyful.”
Creating a Voice
Beall is also growing his online presence through two podcasts. On the Matt Beall Legacy podcast, Beall speaks with team members and business partners about topics related to the company and retail industry, including developing people, personal growth, culture, company values, community impact, the future of retail, and more. In his Matt Beall Limitless podcast, Matt explores more esoteric topics that are of personal interest to him. Across all social media platforms, Legacy has about a thousand followers and subscribers and Limitless has over a quarter million. The Matt Beall Limitless and Matt Beall Legacy channels are available on YouTube.
About Bealls Inc.
Headquartered in Bradenton, Florida since 1915, Bealls Inc. is a privately held company that has been owned and operated by the founding family for 110 years. The company operates 660 retail stores in 22 states under the names bealls, Bealls Florida, and Home Centric, and online at bealls.com and beallsflorida.com. To learn more about Bealls, Inc., please visit http://www.beallsinc.com.