Garden Ridge was founded by Eric White in 1979 as Garden Ridge Pottery.
By 1988, there were 3 stores and White sold the company to a group of investors so he could retire.
In 1990, after almost bankrupting the chain, the investors sold the company to a new group which included Armand Shapiro and Jack Lewis.
The pair revamped the chain and opened a new prototype stores in Houston in 1992. The prototype was a success and two additional stores were opened in ’93 and ’94.
In 1995, the company went public. The company opened 4 stores, including its first outside Texas in Louisville, KY.
In 1998, Lewis resigns as President and COO.
By 2004, the company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They emerge in 2005.
In 2011, the chain is acquired by AEA Investors and taken private.
Today, Garden Ridge operates 63 stores in 19 states.
Garden RidgeGarden Ridge was founded by Eric White in 1979 as Garden Ridge Pottery.
By 1988, there were 3 stores and White sold the company to a group of investors so he could retire.
In 1990, after almost bankrupting the chain, the investors sold the company to a new group which included Armand Shapiro and Jack Lewis.
History
The pair revamped the chain and opened a new prototype stores in Houston in 1992. The prototype was a success and two additional stores were opened in ’93 and ’94.
In 1995, the company went public. The company opened 4 stores, including its first outside Texas in Louisville, KY.
In 1998, Lewis resigns as President and COO.
By 2004, the company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They emerge in 2005.
In 2011, the chain is acquired by AEA Investors and taken private.
Today, Garden Ridge operates 63 stores in 19 states.