Rainbow Shops
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel, retail |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Founder | Irving Arthur Swarzman |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 1,300 (2021) |
Key people | Joseph Chehebar (CEO) Albert Chehebar (President)[1] |
| Products |
|
| Revenue |  US$1.5 billion (2021) |
Number of employees | 12,000 (2021) |
| Subsidiaries | 5-7-9 Joyce Leslie Marianne |
| Website | www |
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Rainbow USA Inc. (commonly referred to as Rainbow Shops or simply Rainbow) is a privately held, moderately priced American retail apparel chain comprising several lifestyle brands primarily targeting teenagers and young women. The company is headquartered in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York, United States.
History
[edit]Rainbow Shops was founded in 1935[2] in New York City by Irving Arthur Swarzman,[3] an Austrian native who was raised in Brooklyn. Swarzman chose the name “Rainbow” to reflect the vibrant and diverse range of affordable fashion options sold at the store. Swarzman brought his four brothers (Herman, Oscar, Ira, and Nat) into the business as they reached working age. They built the business from one shop to a high of eighty-two stores before selling the business in the 1980s, according to Mr. Swarzman's granddaughter. Rainbow Shops is now owned by the Syrian-Jewish Chehebar family.[4][5] Today, along with sister brands 5-7-9 and Marianne, Rainbow operates 1,300 stores in United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[2]
Rainbow's holding company, A.I.J.J. Enterprises Inc., purchased the 5-7-9 brand in 1999 from the bankrupt Edison Brothers Stores. It's operated through a company division named The New 5-7-9 and Beyond, Inc.[6]
Rainbow stores are an average of 5,000 square ft. Each store’s merchandise varies by location, depending upon demographics and the size of the location. Larger stores usually carry juniors, plus, lingerie, shoes and kids departments.
E-commerce
[edit]In November 2021, Rainbow launched its online store which offers a cultivated selection of Junior and Plus fashion, shoes, accessories, discounts, offers and promotions. Its online assortment of styles gets updated daily.
In popular culture
[edit]- Rainbow is mentioned in the film Night School (1991), directed by Malcolm D. Lee, in which Tiffany Haddish's character erroneously refers to it as "Rainbow's".[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Chain Store Guide Company Snapshot: "Rainbow Apparel Co." by Natasha Perry May 29, 2013
- ^ a b "Rainbow Shops About Us". Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle: "DINNER DANCE" July 10, 1938 | "The employes of the Rainbow Shops of New York will give a testimonial dinner-dance in honor of Irving A. Swarzman, founder of the Rainbow Shops, and his brothers, Nathan, Ira, Herman and Oscar Swarzman."
- ^ The Real Deal: "Dominating Deal - Mapping out just how many properties NYC’s Syrian Jewish real estate moguls own in this Jersey Shore hamlet" By Ariel Stulberg August 01, 2015
- ^ New York Times: "Deal on Citigroup Tower Puts Buyer in the Real Estate Big Leagues" By CHARLES V. BAGLI February 8, 2001
- ^ "EDISON BROTHERS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS TO SELL 485 JW/JEANS WEST, CODA AND 5-7-9 STORES ('8-K' for 5/28/99, Exhibit 99.3)". Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
- ^ "Night School (2018) - He Stole the Test / Movieclip". April 1, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via YouTube.