The History of Bealls, Florida
Early Years: 1910s–1930s
- In April 1915, 22-year-old Robert M. Beall Sr. opened a dry-goods store in Bradenton, Florida (then called Bradentown) named “The Dollar Limit”, where nothing sold for more than one dollar.
- He invested his savings in merchandise; famously, he used empty wooden packing crates (that the goods arrived in) upside-down as display tables.
- In 1920, the store was renamed to “V-Dollar Limit” (or Five Dollar Limit) as the pricing model shifted.
- The 1920s Florida land boom helped the business, but the Depression hit hard: Beall lost the business to the bank, though he stayed on as manager and later repurchased it after clearing his debts.
Growth & Expansion: 1940s–1980s
- In 1946, Robert’s son, E.R. Beall, joined the business, and the company changed its name to “Bealls Department Store” to reflect its broader clothing and home-goods offerings.
- The company rode the post-WWII Florida growth wave: more people, more housing, more retail demand. By the 1950s and 1960s the chain expanded to multiple locations in Florida.
- By 1980, the third generation, Robert M. Beall II, became president. By 1981 the chain had ~23 stores; the next year, seven new stores boosted the square footage significantly.
- Strategy: the company emphasized self-financing expansion, modest debt, and adapting the store format.
Modernization & Diversification: 1990s–2000s
- The company recognized the need to evolve: in 1998 they launched their website, and around this era they also initiated initiatives like their own design studio for private labels.
- The business diversified into different retail models: for example the off-price/Outlet format under the same parent company appeared.
- The company remained family-owned, headquartered in Bradenton, Florida. In 2015 they celebrated 100 years.
National Name Rights, Rebranding & Today (2010s–2020s)
- In 2020, the company acquired the national rights to the “Bealls” name from another company (Stage Stores, Inc.) which allowed them to unify and expand the brand more broadly.
- On April 4, 2023, the company announced a major rebranding:
- Its 600+ “Bealls Outlet” and “Burkes Outlet” stores in 23 states would become “bealls” (lowercase) to simplify branding.
- The core Florida chain (non-outlet) would be renamed “Bealls Florida” to reflect its Florida home base, lifestyle messaging (“Live Life Local”), and to align with its e-commerce brand.
- As of 2023–2025, Bealls Florida operates more than 70 stores in Florida serving clothing, shoes, home décor and more.
- The company remains privately held, family-run (fourth generation in leadership) and headquartered in Bradenton, Florida.
What they carry
Apparel & footwear for the whole family
- Women’s clothing: dresses, swimwear, petite & plus sizes, sweaters, jackets, jeans, pajamas.
- Men’s clothing: including big & tall sizes, swimwear, jackets, jeans, pajamas.
- Juniors, girls, boys, toddlers & baby clothes.
- Shoes for men, women and kids.
Home goods & décor
- Bedding, bath, decorative items for the home. Their site says “home” is one of their product categories.
- Home furnishings aimed at the “Florida lifestyle” and families.
Specialty & lifestyle items
- Swimwear / beachwear – given their Florida base, plenty of swim and resort-type items.
- Accessories & additional items (bags, perhaps jewelry, etc) though less spelled out in detail on the site.
- Exclusive brands / items unique to Bealls Florida, per store description.
- Product selection is geared to both “Florida families and visiting guests” (i.e., tourists) with an active/outdoor lifestyle.
