David's Bridal
Encyclopedia
David's Bridal is a clothier
in the United States
that specializes in wedding dress
es, prom gowns, and other formal wear. It is the largest American bridal-store chain.
David's Bridal currently operates more than 300 stores in 45 states, Canada
and Puerto Rico
. It was acquired by May Department Stores
in 2000, which was, in turn, bought by Federated Department Stores
(the parent company of department store giant Macy's
) in 2005. On November 17, 2006, David's Bridal was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners
, on the same day that Federated also divested itself of After Hours Formalwear
.
. The soon to be well known bridal chain all started as a brainchild of David Reisberg, hence the name David’s Bridal. In 1972, Floridian Phillip Youtie purchased the salon with optimistic ideas. Between that time and 1988, Youtie successfully grew his investment from a single store to 18 boutiques. Many of these boutiques were leased bridal stores that were in department stores under the David’s Bridal name. Steven Earlbaum, a late childhood friend of Youtie, eventually joined forces with Youtie to help bring David’s Bridal to all fifty states. Earlbaum, having preexisting experience from creating the Philadelphia-based store chain, Mr. Good Buy, was able to give knowledge to Youtie. Earlbaum and Youtie eventually incorporated the company, structuring it for the national market. A warehouse was built in Hallendale, Florida, where David’s Bridal currently retains their stock. The corporate headquarters are now based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
.
Stores at this time stocked only sample gowns in a standard size. Youtie and Earlbaum changed the store model in the late 1980s with this warehouse off Interstate 95 where they stocked designer gowns, discontinued dress and manufacturer over runs at below retail prices. This chain of bridal stores was like none of its kind. David’s Bridal was all about making a no-frill shopping environment for those who need an expensive wedding dress for a fraction of the price. Stores were not really comfortable, but more plain and warehouse-like. Although there was little to no comfort in the stores, brides-to-be could expect a bargain. Years later, as the business grew even larger and larger, small stores were starting to go out of business while more David’s Bridal stores were being put into business. Between 1994 and 1995, 12 stores were added to the bridal corporation. In 1999, DABR went public with over 104 million dollars in assets and selling eight million shares. In 2000, the May Department Stores Company bought David’s Bridal from Youtie and Earlbaum for $436 million. By this time, David’s Bridal was the largest retailer of bridal gowns and wedding related merchandise. On November 17, 2006, David's Bridal was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners. David’s Bridal is now the only nationwide competitor of bridal stores. One in four Americans brides are dressed by David’s Bridal.
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that specializes in wedding dress
Wedding dress
A wedding dress or wedding gown is the clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants.- Western culture :...
es, prom gowns, and other formal wear. It is the largest American bridal-store chain.
David's Bridal currently operates more than 300 stores in 45 states, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. It was acquired by May Department Stores
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
in 2000, which was, in turn, bought by Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
(the parent company of department store giant Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
) in 2005. On November 17, 2006, David's Bridal was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners
Leonard Green & Partners
Leonard Green & Partners is a private equity firm specializing in leveraged buyout transactions, particularly of middle market companies. As of 2010, the firm had with approximately $9 billion in assets under management....
, on the same day that Federated also divested itself of After Hours Formalwear
After Hours Formalwear
MW Tux was a division of Men's Wearhouse clothier that specialized in the renting of tuxedos and formal wear for men. In late 2008, the MW Tux Brand was rolled up into the Men's Wearhouse brand, and ceased being an independent brand....
.
History
In 1950, David’s Bridal first started out a small bridal boutique in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. The soon to be well known bridal chain all started as a brainchild of David Reisberg, hence the name David’s Bridal. In 1972, Floridian Phillip Youtie purchased the salon with optimistic ideas. Between that time and 1988, Youtie successfully grew his investment from a single store to 18 boutiques. Many of these boutiques were leased bridal stores that were in department stores under the David’s Bridal name. Steven Earlbaum, a late childhood friend of Youtie, eventually joined forces with Youtie to help bring David’s Bridal to all fifty states. Earlbaum, having preexisting experience from creating the Philadelphia-based store chain, Mr. Good Buy, was able to give knowledge to Youtie. Earlbaum and Youtie eventually incorporated the company, structuring it for the national market. A warehouse was built in Hallendale, Florida, where David’s Bridal currently retains their stock. The corporate headquarters are now based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Conshohocken is a borough on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in suburban Philadelphia. Historically a large mill town and industrial and manufacturing center, after the decline of industry in recent years Conshohocken has developed into a center of riverfront commercial and...
.
Stores at this time stocked only sample gowns in a standard size. Youtie and Earlbaum changed the store model in the late 1980s with this warehouse off Interstate 95 where they stocked designer gowns, discontinued dress and manufacturer over runs at below retail prices. This chain of bridal stores was like none of its kind. David’s Bridal was all about making a no-frill shopping environment for those who need an expensive wedding dress for a fraction of the price. Stores were not really comfortable, but more plain and warehouse-like. Although there was little to no comfort in the stores, brides-to-be could expect a bargain. Years later, as the business grew even larger and larger, small stores were starting to go out of business while more David’s Bridal stores were being put into business. Between 1994 and 1995, 12 stores were added to the bridal corporation. In 1999, DABR went public with over 104 million dollars in assets and selling eight million shares. In 2000, the May Department Stores Company bought David’s Bridal from Youtie and Earlbaum for $436 million. By this time, David’s Bridal was the largest retailer of bridal gowns and wedding related merchandise. On November 17, 2006, David's Bridal was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners. David’s Bridal is now the only nationwide competitor of bridal stores. One in four Americans brides are dressed by David’s Bridal.