Belk Celebrates 125 Years

Belk celebrated 125 years in the retail business on Wednesday with a morning celebration at stores across the southeast.

At Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, and at 300 other Belk department stores, the first 100 customers of the day were awarded gift cards.

Dignitaries praised the Charlotte-based retailer, which launched with one store in Monroe, N.C. in 1888.

"I think it's telling that back 125 years ago a person began with $750, $500 in a loan and $3,000 worth of goods and from that a $3.5 billion business has been built," said U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-Charleston. "It's a reminder to every entrepreneur out there across tri-county area that, indeed, from their little dreams mighty oaks might grow."

Belk is the nation's largest privately owned mainline department store. It operates 300 locations in 16 southern states.

Belk has operated a location in Mount Pleasant since the early 1970s. Its current location in Towne Centre opened in 1999 and was expanded in 2006. The store recently began construction on an expansion at Towne Centre that will grow the store to a "flagship" property in the chain.

"It's going to be a two-phase expansion," said store manager Lee Kennedy during a Thursday anniversary celebration. "This fall, we'll relocate our men's business to the old EarthFare, Guy Harvey (restaurant) building across the parking lot."

In Spring 2014 in Mount Pleasant, Belk will then add a parking deck and additional square footage to its north in the area where Palmetto Moon is currently located.

"It's going to be a little painful growth, but it's going to be great," Kennedy said.

Belk operates stores at Citadel Mall in West Ashley, Northwoods Mall in North Charleston and on Main Street in Summerville.

The chain has been celebrating its anniversary for months with sales. The special prices continue this week. Read more on Facebook (launches in special window.)