History of Marshalls in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 28, 2025

Marshalls is an American chain of off-price department stores owned by TJX Companies. It operates over 1,000 stores in the United States, covering 49 states and Puerto Rico, with some locations branded as Marshalls Mega Store. The company expanded into Canada in March 2011 and currently has 61 stores there.

1956: Founding of Marshalls

In 1956, Alfred Marshall collaborated with entrepreneurs, including Bernard Goldston, Norman Barren, and Irving Blitt, to establish "Brand Names For Less," which became Marshalls.

1960: Partnership Changes and Clothing Introduction

In 1960, Frank Estey and Bernard Ribas became partners by acquiring Bernard Goldston's shares. During the same year, Marshalls started carrying clothing after Irving Blitt purchased factory second Arrow shirts while on a trip to New York.

1976: Acquisition by Melville Corporation

In 1976, Marshalls was acquired by Melville Corporation. At the time of the acquisition, Marshalls had 36 stores in New England and California, along with five independently owned stores in the Caribbean.

1982: $1 Billion in Sales

In 1982, the Marshalls brand surpassed $1 billion in sales.

April 1987: Store Count and Profitability Issues

By April 1987, Marshalls had grown to 261 stores nationwide. However, the company faced slipping profits in the mid-1980s due to a shift towards lower-priced goods, causing it to compete more with discount stores than department stores.

1993: Expansion to 42 States

By 1993, Marshalls had expanded its presence to 42 states, including Hawaii, and had opened several downtown locations.

1994: Puerto Rico Expansion and Profit Decline

In 1994, Marshalls opened its first location in Puerto Rico. During the same year, the company experienced a 20% decrease in pretax operating earnings.

1995: Acquisition by TJX Companies

In 1995, Marshalls was acquired by TJX, the parent company of its primary competitor, TJ Maxx, for $550 million. At the time of the acquisition, Marshalls operated 496 stores.

2002: Employee Class-Action Settlement

In 2002, TJX paid a US$100 million settlement in California to resolve an employee class-action suit. The suit alleged that Marshalls misused exempt/nonexempt classifications to avoid paying overtime or compensation time to employees in certain roles performing non-exempt job duties, in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

2005: Introduction of Shoe MegaShop Departments

In 2005, Marshalls began introducing Shoe MegaShop departments within its stores.

2008: Expansion of MegaShop Departments

In 2008, Marshalls expanded the MegaShop departments to 240 of its stores.

2009: Planned Expansion of MegaShop Departments

In fiscal year 2009, Marshalls planned to add MegaShop departments to an additional 200 stores. The company also expanded the concept to standalone stores.

March 2011: Canadian Expansion

In March 2011, Marshalls expanded its operations into Canada, marking its first international venture.

2015: 1,000th Store Opening

In 2015, Marshalls opened its 1,000th store.

November 2016: Marshalls Canada Expansion Plans

As of November 2016, Marshalls Canada had 50 stores and planned to operate approximately 100 stores across the country.

2019: Online Shopping Launch

In 2019, Marshalls launched its website to offer online shopping to customers.

March 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Store Closures

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marshalls shut down all its stores, suspended online operations, and closed its distribution, fulfillment centers, and offices.