In honor of the opening of the Texas-born retailer’s 100th store, we’re taking a trip down memory lane.
When people say everything is bigger in Texas, they might just be thinking about Cavender’s Boot City. The Western retailer is larger-than-life in just about every way — from its assortment of merchandise to the size of the storefronts to the number of locations. Although Cavender’s has become somewhat synonymous with the Lone Star State, the retail giant has also found great success nationwide, with store locations in Nebraska, Florida, Colorado and beyond.
Founded in 1965 in the small East Texas town of Pittsburg, Cavender’s opened its 100th store this month in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park. The family-run business celebrated the milestone Texas-style, with live music from Stephanie Quayle, chuck wagon cooking, BBQ, and cocktails
To join in on the celebration, C&I is looking back at Cavender’s through the years, from its humble beginnings to its latest grand opening.
LEFT: The first-ever Cavender’s home office and store location in Pittsburg, Texas.
RIGHT: Cavender’s 100th store in Cedar Park, Texas.
Cavender’s Then
A sidewalk sale at Cavender’s first Texarkana, Texas, location in the late 1980s.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Karen Marshall, Breck Marshall, Patty Howell, Clay Cavender, and Jeff Howell posing in the Pittsburg, Texas, store for a yearbook advertisement.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Joe, Mike, and James Cavender with George Strait at Cavender’s Hurst, Texas, location in 1987.
Cavender’s second location in Texarkana, Texas, in 1990.
An early Boot Bonanza advertisement for Cavender’s 11 Texas locations.
Cavender’s employees during a manager’s conference.
The grand opening of Cavender’s Waco, Texas, store in 1995.
Founder James Cavender posing in a boot aisle in 2006.
Cavender’s Now
The storefront of Cavender’s 100th location in Cedar Park.
Brothers Clay, Mike, and Joe Cavender at the recent grand opening celebration.
Greetings from inside the Cedar Park store.
A sitting area to try on cowboy boots.
Country singer-songwriter Stephanie Quayle serenading customers at the grand opening celebration.
Cavender’s own boot brand JRC & Sons displayed proudly.
Watch 100 seconds of Cavender’s 100th store:
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Cavender’s
