Casual Corner was a retail clothing chain co-founded in 1950 by Charles E. Carples and Stanley W. Vogel of West Hartford, Connecticut. Its original focus was on women’s sportswear.
It was sold to U.S. Shoe Corporation in 1970 with just 20 stores, and soon expanded into shopping malls across the country. By the 1990s it had redesigned its offerings to appeal to working women. Under U.S. Shoe’s ownership, Casual Corner became the foundation of a larger company known as Women’s Specialty Retailing Group. In addition to Casual Corner, it owned and operated August Max, Petite Sophisticates, Sophisticated Woman, and a handful of other lesser known brands.
Casual Corner operated more than 525 stores at its peak in 2000. By 2005, all remaining locations were closed after being sold to a liquidator.
Written by Ranch Queen Vintage