Kohls

Kohl’s is a leading American department store retailer with a long-standing presence in the national retail landscape. The company began in 1962, when Maxwell Kohl opened the first Kohl’s department store in Brookfield, Wisconsin, building on his earlier experience running a grocery store in Milwaukee. Over the decades, Kohl’s grew steadily, becoming the largest department store chain in the United States by store count in 2012.

As of February 2024, Kohl’s operates 1,174 stores across 49 states, with Hawaii as the only exception. The company’s headquarters remains in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and it is independently owned and publicly traded. Kohl’s employs approximately 87,000 people and reported $16.2 billion in annual revenue for fiscal year 2025.

Kohl’s offers a broad mix of products, including apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty items, and home goods. The retailer is known for its combination of exclusive private-label brands alongside popular national brands. In recent years, Kohl’s has expanded its partnership with Sephora, adding dedicated beauty shop-in-shops to many locations in an effort to attract new customers and increase store traffic.

During the past five years, Kohl’s has shifted its growth strategy. Rather than opening large numbers of new stores, the company has focused on optimizing its existing portfolio. This includes remodeling select locations and introducing smaller-format stores that fit a wider range of real estate opportunities. Kohl’s continues to evaluate potential sites in urban infill areas, suburban growth corridors, and select rural markets, adapting its approach to meet evolving consumer preferences and shopping patterns.

The company has also invested in digital integration, blending its physical stores with a robust e-commerce platform, curbside pickup, and same-day delivery options. These omnichannel capabilities have strengthened Kohl’s position as a convenient and accessible retailer.

Kohl’s is led by Michael Bender, who serves as Chairman and acting CEO as of May 2025. The company does not franchise its stores and maintains a direct corporate structure. Its scale, flexible store formats, and willingness to adapt through partnerships and digital innovation have kept Kohl’s relevant in a rapidly changing retail environment. For landlords, brokers, and developers, Kohl’s remains a significant anchor tenant with a stable footprint and a proven ability to draw consistent customer traffic.