Boscov’s is Expanding With the Opening of 50th Store

"Have you Boscoved today?" The answer to that question in South Jersey -- a slogan popular in much of Boscov's advertising -- is, yes.

I heard several years ago that the Egg Harbor Township store is the highest revenue-generating Boscov's in the chain, but I wasn't able to verify that at this writing. I can tell you that the EHT store does an outstanding business.

Boscov's, the nation's largest family-owned department store is about to experience a milestone moment later this year when they open its 50th store and its first location in West Virginia. The 150,000 square-foot space formally housed a Sears and 12 other mall stores.

According to Boscov's website history, Solomon Boscov moved to the United States in 1911 with only about $12 in his pocket. After failing to find a job in the capital, Washington, D.C., he then traveled to Reading, Pennsylvania. In Reading, he was able to communicate with the locals better because they spoke Pennsylvania Dutch, similar to his own native language.

He became a partner with a general merchandise store owner and eventually opened a store for himself. More customers began coming because they heard of his fair prices and quality merchandise. His business thrived, and he expanded after a year of having opened his first store. By 1913, a Boscov's store occupied all of the houses on the street.

Today, Boscov's has 49 stores in eight states with the most in Pennsylvania and eight in New Jersey.

At a time when most brick-and-mortar retailers are scaling back, Company CEO Jim Boscov told ChainStoreAge.com how Boscov's remains viable in this day of online sales.

 "We have the advantage of being a family-owned business. That means we can make decisions and work to please the customer, not the stock market."

One thing I like about Boscov's is they celebrate the opening of each new location with a sale in all of their locations, so we'll keep an eye on the opening date of the new West Virginia store to save some money in South Jersey.