Brendle's

Brendle's
GenreCatalog showroom
Founded1918
Defunct1996
FateBankruptcy and liquidation
Headquarters
Elkin, North Carolina

Brendle's was a chain of catalog showrooms based in Elkin, North Carolina, USA. Its showrooms carried jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics. At its peak in 1990, Brendle's operated 58 showrooms in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee.[1][2]

The company announced it was closing in 1996 a few months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time.[3]

History

The company began in 1918 as SW&Y Supply, a wholesale grocery-distributing business. In 1953, Douglas D. Brendle, the grandson of the company's founder, joined the business. He began stocking toys and houseware items, turning its Elkin warehouse into its first wholesale showroom. In 1957, Brendle began publishing the company's first catalog.[4]

At its peak in 1990, Brendle's had 3,000 employees, and 58 stores.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992, closing six stores.[5][6][7] Douglas Brendle retired in 1995.

Brendle's then filed for Chapter 11 for a second time in April 1996.[8] The company, whose struggles mirrored Service Merchandise, pared down to 12 stores and tried to refocus on home goods, crafts and party items while eliminating consumer electronics, toys and sporting goods. However, realizing that there wasn't nearly enough time for the new strategy to take hold, company officials ultimately decided to go out of business in December.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Doug Brendle quits board of directors," The Tribune (Elkin, North Carolina), September 6, 1996
  2. ^ "City Brendle's Store Will Close" (PDF). Savannah, GA: Savannah Morning News. 1992-01-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  3. ^ "Company News;brendle's Seeks Bankruptcy Court Protection". The New York Times. Reuters. 1996-04-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  4. ^ Guenzel, Jessica (2006-02-12). "Store founder Douglas D. Brendle dies". Winston-Salem Journal. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  5. ^ "Discount Store News, Feb. 17, 1992". Findarticles.com. 1992. Archived from the original on 2007-02-19. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  6. ^ "Brendle's Seeks Bankruptcy Court Protection". The New York Times. 1996-04-17.
  7. ^ "Company News; Brendle's Chain to Close 13 More Stores on June 1". The New York Times. 1993-05-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  8. ^ "Company News;brendle's Seeks Bankruptcy Court Protection". The New York Times. 1996-04-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  9. ^ "Brendle's to liquidate". Charlotte Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. 1996-12-05. Retrieved 2009-07-15.


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