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The History of Rugged Wearhouse

The history of Rugged Wearhouse is fairly short compared to other retailers. The retailer is owned by Gabriel Brothers, Inc. and their first store opened in Frederick, Maryland in 1996. During the late 1990s, the retailer opened 15 more stores in Maryland and Virginia and have expanded into the southern east coast. They also have stores in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Rugged Wearhouse considers its target market young, contemporary adults and carries a merchandise mix of casual, contemporary items. These items are meant to appeal to "mothers, daughters, fathers, and sons...anyone who enjoys today's relaxed, informal lifestyle." Besides apparel, Rugged Wearhouse also sells home furnishings, accessories (shoes, jewelry, handbags, etc.) and lifestyle products in some of their stores.

The retailer has about 12, 000 square feet of selling space in its average store. The customer's are greeted with "departments framed in rough-hewn wood", soft music over the speakers and bright signs to help customers find what they are looking for. Since the initial growth phase of the late 1990s, Rugged Wearhouse has opened about 21 stores in North Carolina and is looking to open "more than 100 stores within the next few years".