Deb Shops

Deb Shops was founded in 1932 by Philip Rounick and Aaron Weiner as JOY Hosiery, a Philadelphia-based retailer specializing in affordable hosiery and lingerie. As suburban shopping malls expanded during the 1960s and 1970s, the company shifted its focus from neighborhood stores to larger mall locations and rebranded as Deb Shops, becoming a popular destination for trendy junior fashion. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Deb Shops grew into one of the largest specialty apparel chains in the United States, operating more than 300 stores across 42 states. In response to growing demand for fashionable extended sizing, the company launched DEB PLUS in the mid-1990s, converting select stores and departments into dedicated plus-size shopping destinations. Following financial challenges and two bankruptcy filings, all physical Deb Shops stores closed in 2015. Later that year, the brand returned as an online-only retailer focused primarily on plus-size women’s fashion. After another closure in 2018, the Deb Shops name was later revived by a separate company, which now operates an e-commerce business selling affordable plus-size apparel, including dresses, denim, tops, swimwear, lingerie, shoes, handbags, and outerwear. Today, Deb Shops continues as an online retailer offering trend-driven plus-size fashion at accessible price points while carrying forward one of the most recognizable names in American value fashion.