It was 1938 when Alexander, Albert and Ben Gushner left Russia in search of a better life. They settled in Philadelphia and opened Boyds, a store in Center City, Philadelphia , selling cigars and sundries and eventually men’s shirts.

Over the past eight decades Boyds has grown into one of the country’s finest multibrand independent specialty retailers. Its 74,000-square-foot flagship on Chestnut Street underwent a $10 million renovation in 2018 that served to further elevate the shopping experience and shine a light on the company’s burgeoning women’s business.

Today, Boyds is operated by Kent Gushner, the third generation of the founding family, who serves as president. His sons Alex and Andrew are also in the business, providing stability to its team of longtime employees along

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