Gadzooks (retailer)

Gadzooks, Inc.
Fate Acquired by Forever 21 and shut down
Founded 1983 (1983)
Founder Jerry Szczepanski
Larry Titus
Defunct March 17, 2005 (2005-03-17)
Headquarters Carrollton, Texas

Gadzooks, Inc. was a mall-based teenage clothing retailer. It was acquired by Forever 21 in 2005 and then shut down.

The company logo included the Volkswagen Beetle and all stores had a life-size version of part of a Beetle inside.

History

The company was founded in 1983 as a T-shirt business by Jerry Szczepanski and Larry Titus.[1] The first store was in Mesquite, Texas.[2]

By 1992, the company had 33 stores in Texas.[2]

In 1995, the company became a public company via an initial public offering and within 3 months, the share price quadrupled from $15 to $61.[2] That year the company had 195 stores.[3]

In 2003, the company dropped its male clothing line to focus exclusively on 16- to 22-year-old females.[4]

In February 2004, the company filed bankruptcy and announced plans to reduce its store count from 410 to 252.[5]

In March 2005, Forever 21 purchased the chain for $33 million.[6]

The stores were eventually phased out.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Starkey, Ted (May 15, 2018). "U.S. chains that no longer exist". Newsday.
  2. 1 2 3 HOLLANDSWORTH, SKIP (June 1999). "It's Like, You Know". Texas Monthly.
  3. ↑ Lewis, Casey (August 27, 2014). "Where Are They Now: The Great Suburban Mall Store Demise". Vox Media.
  4. ↑ "Gadzooks to sell only women's clothing". American City Business Journals. January 9, 2003.
  5. ↑ "Gadzooks files for bankruptcy protection". American City Business Journals. February 3, 2004.
  6. ↑ "Forever 21 wraps up Gadzooks deal". American City Business Journals. March 17, 2005.
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