History
The chain was founded in 1973 in Dallas, Texas by Jack J. Crocker, then the CEO of SuperValu supermarkets. County Seat specialized in casual apparel and blue jeans. In 1977, the chain grew to 183 stores, and began selling sports clothing as well. In 1983, it was sold to the Carson Pirie Scott department store chain of Chicago, who bought County Seat for $71 million.
Carson Pirie Scott redesigned the chain's stores with matte black fixtures and re-focused the merchandise line to target high schoolers. The chain had 415 stores in 1989, at which point Bergner's acquired Carson Pirie Scott and sold off County Seat to a new management team.
Wet Seal made an offer to buy the County Seat chain in 1996, but it was rejected. The chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 1996 and began closing off stores. County Seat filed for bankruptcy again in 1999.
Read more about this topic: County Seat (store)
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