P.C. Richard Marking 100th Anniversary

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 10/9/2009

Farmingdale, N.Y. - P.C. Richard & Son, the $1.5-billion CE and appliance chain, is celebrating 100 years of serving the New York metro area with special in-store events this weekend and an industry gala next Saturday.

According to the Asbury Park Press, the 56-store chain will begin offering anniversary discounts, giveaways and sweepstakes this weekend that will run through the end of the year.

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The company will also treat its approximately 2,500 employees to a centennial celebration lunch on Saturday, president Gregg Richard told the New Jersey newspaper.

The festivities will continue next Saturday with an industry gala at Manhattan's New York Marriott Marquis that will benefit the charitable P.C. Richard Foundation.

Celebrations aside, the company has been busy expanding its operations to help assure a second successful century. So far this year the chain has added six locations in former Circuit City sites - including its first in Connecticut - and plans to open its 57^th store, in Princeton, N.J., next month.

At the same time, the company laid the groundwork for a major expansion into New Jersey with the opening of a 325,000-square-foot complex there that houses a regional headquarters office, a distribution center, and training and service facilities.

Richard said the chain has also remodeled all of it showrooms with improved displays and an expanded selection, and is rolling out Verizon Wireless kiosks to all stores.The chain began in 1909 as a Brooklyn hardware store that was opened by Dutch immigrant Peter Christiaan (P.C.) Richard. His son "A.J." - the late Alfred J. Richard - grew the business by adding radios, appliances and a service department in the 1930s, and a trucking division to deliver large items to customers' homes.

A.J. also led the regional expansion that would build P.C. Richard & Son into the largest privately held electronics and appliance chain in the country.

Today the company is led by A.J.'s son, CEO Gary Richard, and Gary's son Gregg, who runs the day-to-day operations of the family business.