Rainbow Shops

Rainbow Shops is a specialty apparel retailer built on affordable fashion for women, juniors, plus sizes, and children. The company was founded in 1935 in New York City as a single store and has evolved into one of the largest family-owned women's apparel chains in the country. As of November 2025, Rainbow operates more than 1,000 stores across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.

The brand's core appeal centers on value-conscious shoppers looking for current styles and broad assortment in clothing, shoes, and accessories at accessible price points. Over the past five years, Rainbow has expanded its reach by introducing plus-size and children's concepts, reflecting both market demand and the company's commitment to serving diverse customer segments across urban and suburban markets. The retailer has also built a meaningful e-commerce platform that works alongside its physical store network.

Rainbow remains privately held and managed by the founding Chehebar family. The company is actively seeking new locations in high-traffic shopping centers, urban retail corridors, and value-oriented strip centers, with particular focus on underserved urban and suburban markets showing strong demographic growth. The organization demonstrates flexibility on store size and format, operating both inline and endcap spaces and remaining open to second-generation retail opportunities. Priority expansion markets include the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest, along with Texas, California, and Puerto Rico.

For real estate professionals, Rainbow's scale and consistent growth trajectory across diverse retail environments, combined with its broad demographic reach, position the brand as a dependable tenant across multiple property types and market conditions.