Gottschalks History

Gottschalks was founded by Emil Gottschalk in 1904 as a dry goods store in Fresno CA. Ten years after that location was opened, the company got big enough to move to a new larger location, 10 times the original size. Since then, the company continued to grow to 58 stores across 6 western states. 

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Most stores were known as Gottschalks, but a small selection of these stores was known as Harris Gottschalks. Prior to its bankruptcy in 2009, it was the largest independently owned public department store chain in the United States. The original parent company announced bankruptcy & began liquidating all stores March 31st, 2009. 

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After the company went under, in 2011 former CEO Joe Levy has plans to reopen the company but ultimately plans fell through. 

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Since 2011, the company remained out of business until March 2025, when Redway International announced plans to reopen the once beloved department store as an online retailer.  Today Redway Brands International is the current & proud parent company of Gottschalks to continue its 105-year legacy.