Hollister Co.

Hollister Co., often advertised as Hollister or HCo., is a retail brand owned by Abercrombie & Fitch Co, selling apparel, accessories, and fragrances. Goods are available in-store and through the company's online store. Hollister says it was founded in 1922 in Hollister, California; however, it was founded in 2000 in Ohio by Abercrombie.

History

Establishment

The first Hollister store opened on July 27, 2000, at the Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. Four additional test stores opened following in Overland Park, Kansas, Buford, Georgia, Canoga Park, California, and Paramus, New Jersey.

Although Hollister Co. was founded in 2000, Abercrombie & Fitch has created a fictional history surrounding its founder. According to this history, John Hollister, Sr. emigrated from New York City to the Dutch East Indies, and established the company bearing his name upon returning to the United States and settling in California in 1922. However, the company was actually founded in Columbus, Ohio in 2000. A&F spokesperson Hampton Carney stated about Hollister, "We’re not going after the ‘core surfing market. It's more about the lifestyle and inspiration, rather than the actual activity."

International expansion

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. expanded into Canada in mid-January 2006 with the opening of Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Co. stores in Toronto, Ontario.