COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 45211

Department Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1870–1988founding years28still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedZion's Cooperative Mercantile InstitutionFoundedZion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution
1870
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedR.H. Macy & Co., Inc.FoundedSaks Inc.FoundedSolo Serve CorporationFoundedTokyu Department Store Co., Ltd.
1919
FoundedKaufring AG
1921
FoundedFederated Department Stores, Inc.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedArmy and Air Force Exchange Service
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedNavy Exchange Service CommandFoundedNavy Exchange Service Command
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedMervyn's California
1949
FoundedG.I. Joe's, Inc.FoundedSPAR Handels AG
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedAmes Department Stores, Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedDylex Limited
1967
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedWal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedKohl's Corporation
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution →
Active · founded 1870
Organized in 1868, Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) claims the distinction of being the first full-line…
Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution →
Active · founded 1870
Organized in 1868, Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) claims the distinction of being the first full-line…
R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
R.H.
R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
R.H.
Saks Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
Saks Inc., formerly Proffitt's, Inc., is one of the largest operators of department stores in the United States.
Saks Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
Saks Inc., formerly Proffitt's, Inc., is one of the largest operators of department stores in the United States.
Solo Serve Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
Solo Serve Corporation is a Texas-based chain of off-priced or discount retail stores offering a wide array of…
Solo Serve Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
Solo Serve Corporation is a Texas-based chain of off-priced or discount retail stores offering a wide array of…
Tokyu Department Store Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Tokyu Department Store Co., Ltd.
Tokyu Department Store Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Tokyu Department Store Co., Ltd.
Kaufring AG →
Active · founded 1921 · Germany
Kaufring AG is the leading German wholesale organization for mid-sized independent department stores and special…
Kaufring AG →
Active · founded 1921 · Germany
Kaufring AG is the leading German wholesale organization for mid-sized independent department stores and special…
Federated Department Stores, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1929
With over 400 department stores in 33 states and a burgeoning direct-to-customer retail business, Federated Department…
Federated Department Stores, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1929
With over 400 department stores in 33 states and a burgeoning direct-to-customer retail business, Federated Department…
Army and Air Force Exchange Service →
Active · founded 1941
1940s:Exchange Service goes to war; catalog ordering is introduced.
Army and Air Force Exchange Service →
Active · founded 1941
1940s:Exchange Service goes to war; catalog ordering is introduced.
Navy Exchange Service Command →
Active · founded 1946
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) operates various types of retail outlets for the benefits of Naval…
Navy Exchange Service Command →
Active · founded 1946
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) operates various types of retail outlets for the benefits of Naval…
Mervyn's California →
Active · founded 1949
Mervyn's California, owned by retail giant Target Corporation, operates 267 department stores in 14 states.
Mervyn's California →
Active · founded 1949
Mervyn's California, owned by retail giant Target Corporation, operates 267 department stores in 14 states.
G.I. Joe's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
A regional retailer with a unique merchandise mix, G.I.
G.I. Joe's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
A regional retailer with a unique merchandise mix, G.I.
SPAR Handels AG →
Active · founded 1952 · Germany
SPAR Handels AG is Germany's seventh largest company active in grocery wholesale and retail with a market share of…
SPAR Handels AG →
Active · founded 1952 · Germany
SPAR Handels AG is Germany's seventh largest company active in grocery wholesale and retail with a market share of…
Ames Department Stores, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1962
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
Ames Department Stores, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1962
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
Dylex Limited →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
One of the leading specialty retailers in Canada, Dylex Limited operates five retail chains that cater to distinct…
Dylex Limited →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
One of the leading specialty retailers in Canada, Dylex Limited operates five retail chains that cater to distinct…
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1984 · Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1984 · Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.
Kohl's Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Kohl's Corporation is one of the largest discount department store chains in the United States, with more than 230…
Kohl's Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Kohl's Corporation is one of the largest discount department store chains in the United States, with more than 230…
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