Bealls plans to open three stores in one day — in one shopping center

Bradenton retailer Bealls is readying itself for a big party — by opening three locations under a trio of brands in one day, scheduled for this Friday, Oct. 20.  

The location, according to a statement, is the Merchants Crossing shopping center at 1500 Placida Road in Englewood, south Sarasota County, near the Charlotte County line. The stores are one each of Bealls, Bealls Florida and Home Centric. The Bealls store is part of a companywide rebrand, in which the Bealls Outlet and Burkes Outlet locations became Bealls. Bealls Florida, meanwhile, is what was the chain of non-outlet stores the company runs that are only in Florida. And Home Centric is the chain's home decor brand. 

“The Englewood community has supported Bealls since the 1970’s and we are thrilled to share this transformation and re-branding with this town,” Bealls Vice President of Marketing and Guest Strategy Chrissy Kavanagh says in the release. “We love that our guests will be able to enjoy shopping bealls, Home Centric and Bealls Florida all in one spot.” 

The celebration kicks off Friday, Oct. 20, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 22, the company says. The first 200 guests in line at 9 a.m. Friday will receive a free gift card valued at $10, $20 or $50. And shoppers can enter to win a $500 gift card to the stores all weekend, the release states.

A centerpiece of the weekend is the Art Contest hosted by Bealls Inc. and Embracing Our Differences. Local art students were asked to create works with the theme of what Englewood means to them, the company says. Three artists were selected that will have their art featured on a special-edition stainless-steel cup that will be sold during the grand opening at the Englewood stores along with a donation benefiting the nonprofit. The winners and their art teachers will each receive a Bealls gift card.

Headquartered in Bradenton since it was founded 1915, Bealls Inc. is a privately held company owned and operated by the Beall family for over 100 years. The company operates more than 600 retail stores in 23 states under the names Bealls, Bealls Florida, Home Centric and Rugged Earth Outfitters and online at BeallsFlorida.com and Bealls.com. It had $1.87 billion in revenue in 2022.