The Humble Beginnings of 10 Leading Retailers

When David Abercrombie established his store in 1892, he likely never imagined its future transformation. The journey of Abercrombie and Fitch, along with nine other iconic clothing retailers, showcases how their initial offerings evolved dramatically over time.

1. Abercrombie & Fitch

Founded in Manhattan in 1892, Abercrombie Co. initially specialized in expedition and adventure gear, catering to notable figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and Charles Lindbergh. After Ezra Fitch joined in the early 1900s, the brand expanded, and its Madison Avenue flagship store, opened in 1917, featured unique amenities such as a shooting range, a golf school with a professional instructor, a pet kennel, and even a pool for fly-fishing lessons.

2. Banana Republic

Banana Republic was established in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler, with its inaugural store in Mill Valley, California. Initially, the brand relied heavily on a uniquely illustrated catalog featuring product critiques from renowned writers such as Hunter S. Thompson and Nora Ephron. Acquired by Gap, Inc. in 1983, Banana Republic had only two stores at the time. Post-acquisition, new stores embraced a full safari theme, complete with Jeeps, tropical plants, and atmospheric fog.

3. Gap

The Gap launched its first location on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco in 1969, initially offering only men’s Levi’s and records. By 1970, it expanded to San Jose and introduced women’s Levi’s. The brand introduced its own line of jeans in 1974.

4. Eddie Bauer

At just 21 years old in 1920, Eddie Bauer launched “Bauer’s Tennis Shop,” a small section within another store in Seattle dedicated to selling tennis rackets. Operating only during the tennis season, its success enabled him to expand into handmade golf clubs and fishing gear, prompting a name change to “Eddie Bauer’s Sport Shop.” A life-threatening experience later inspired Bauer to create the first patented down jacket, revolutionizing his business.

5. Kohl’s

Before Kohl’s became a department store chain, Max Kohl started with Kohl’s supermarket, which grew into Kohl’s Food Stores. Rather than abandoning his initial venture, Kohl expanded into department stores while maintaining both businesses. In 1983, Kohl’s Food Stores were sold to A&P and rebranded as Kohl’s II, though they no longer exist today.

6. Bloomingdale’s

In the 1860s, brothers Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale specialized in selling hoop skirts. By 1872, they launched their Great East Side Bazaar, described by The New York Times as offering items like skirts, corsets, hosiery, millinery, gloves, and a variety of ‘fancy goods.’

7. Gymboree Play and Music Program

Joan Barnes founded Gymboree Play and Music Program in 1976, driven by the lack of spaces for children and parents to engage in play and exercise together. Clothing wasn’t introduced until 1986, and today, the Gymboree Corporation and Gymboree Play and Music Program operate independently.

8. Nordstrom

John Nordstrom, a Swedish immigrant, found success during the Yukon gold rush and invested his earnings to establish Wallin & Nordstrom, a shoe store, in 1901. (Carl Wallin owned the adjacent shoe repair shop.) By 1958, the company had grown to eight stores, all exclusively selling shoes. It wasn’t until the Nordstrom sons purchased Best Apparel of Seattle in 1963 that they diversified their offerings.

9. JC Penney’s

James Cash Penney’s initial business venture, named The Golden Rule, was a dry goods store established in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in 1902. By 1913, when the J.C. Penney Stores Company was officially incorporated, it had expanded to over 30 stores across the western United States. Reuters notes that in the late 1950s, the company diversified its focus to include a wide range of hard and soft goods, enabling it to compete more effectively with major department stores like Sears, Roebuck and Co.

10. Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf Goodman began as a modest tailoring operation founded by Herman Bergdorf and Edwin Goodman.