Bradenton-based Bealls brand is growing nationally as 2nd Home Centric opens in Manatee
Home Centric, which Bealls Inc. started as a home products store-within-a-store, is taking off locally as well as nationally.
Bealls recently opened its second Home Centric store in the Bradenton area at 7212 Manatee Ave. W., and now operates 36 locations in several states, Matt Beall, chairman and CEO of Bradenton-based Bealls Stores, Inc., said in an email.
The other Bradenton-area Home Centric store is located in Creekwood Plaza at 7379 52nd Place E.
By the end of 2022, there should be about 60 Home Centric stores nationally, about half of which will be in Florida, and the rest which will be located in about 10 other states, Beall said.
It’s been a fast growth trajectory for the home products chain of stores. Bealls opened its first Home Centric store in Cary, N.C., in 2018.
Bealls tested the Home Centric concept within its Bealls Outlet stores in Florida, offering an assortment of furniture, lamps, wall décor, bath products, bedding and more.
“We continue to see the home business as an opportunity. There are not a lot of retailers who do it really well, and we think we can be a great solution for people looking to update their homes,” Beall said.
“Our current plan has us just over 100 stores in five years, but business results will ultimately determine our growth rate,” he said.
Sisters Pam Kozlikowski and Kate Reddin were shopping at the new, 18,000-square-foot Manatee Avenue Home Centric store this week. They were buying a table, dish towels, rugs and holiday ornaments and were checking out a selection of books.
“I think this is an awesome place. If you need a gift or something for your home, this is the place to go. I like the way the store is laid out and the displays are very inviting,” Kozlikowski said.
Bealls Inc. has been headquartered in Bradenton since its founding in 1915 and is one of the largest private employers in Manatee County.
For hours and more information about Home Centric, visit https://stores.homecentric.com/.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
