Kohl's

Kohl's operates as a major American department store chain, blending family-owned roots with massive national scale. Founded in 1927 by Polish immigrant Maxwell Kohl as a corner grocery in Milwaukee, the business evolved into a local food store network before launching its first department location in 1962. British American Tobacco acquired a controlling stake in 1972 and later sold the company to BATUS Inc. in 1979. A group of investors bought the firm in 1986 and took it public six years later, setting the stage for rapid expansion. Headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, the retailer now runs 1,174 stores across every U.S. state except Hawaii. By May 2012, Kohl's overtook JCPenney to become the largest department store chain in the country. The company maintains a strong financial presence, listing on both the S&P 400 and Fortune 500. In 2019, revenue figures placed the chain as the 23rd-largest retailer in the United States, proving its enduring relevance in a shifting retail landscape.[edit]