Al Boscov in front of the historical marker at ninth and Pike that honors his father’s life. Photo by Susan L. Angstadt 03/1/13 – Reading Eagle

The retailer, who is about to receive a statewide honor, gets respect – and results – in the world of retail, the corridors of power and the communities he serves.

Mike Urban | Reading Eagle

“Even in a city famous for its entertainers, Albert R. Boscov stands out.

“Twice a year Boscov heads to Las Vegas for the country’s biggest consumer-goods trade show, held in the city’s convention center.

“The building is packed with almost 3,000 vendors selling everything from diamond rings to dog food.

“Boscov is one of 45,000 retailers who attend.

“And despite all the chatter and noise, amid all the buying and selling, a buzz goes through the huge hall when ‘Mr. B’ walks in.

“It’s as though everyone instantly recognizes him.

“‘It’s like traveling with a rock star,’ said Bob Para, who’s seen those entrances firsthand as a small-appliance buyer for Boscov’s.

“‘You can hear people saying, “He’s here. He’s here,”’ Para said. ‘They love him. It’s like Elvis is in the building.’

“But while Boscov is a star in Vegas, he’s even more appreciated back home, where his business smarts, showman’s personality and love of Reading are legendary.

“Boscov isn’t tall, but he’s rarely overlooked.

“And now he is set to receive a big honor.

“On Thursday he’ll be the first person inducted into the Pennsylvania Retailers’ Association Hall of Fame. Gov. Tom Corbett and former Gov. Ed Rendell are among those planning to attend the induction ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Reading in Wyomissing.

“Lifetime of impressive feats

“‘He’s one of the most genuinely decent people I’ve ever met,’ said association president and CEO Brian Rider. ‘And he is a true American success story.’

“The story started when Albert Boscov’s late father, Solomon, a Russian immigrant, came to Reading in 1911.

“Solomon would stuff pairs of long underwear, thread and other household supplies in a sack and walk through Berks and Lancaster farm country, selling his goods to farmers’ wives. Sales improved, and in 1918 he opened a dry goods store in a North Ninth Street row home in Reading.

“Albert Boscov joined the business full time in 1955, along with his brother-in-law Edward Lakin, and the two quickly opened other stores.

“Under Albert Boscov’s leadership, the company has grown into one of the largest family-owned retail chains in the country. It has 41 stores in five states and tops $1 billion in sales annually. Two more stores will open this year.

“Maybe Boscov’s most impressive business feat, though, was coming out of retirement to help save the company after it went bankrupt in 2008. The crashed economy – coupled with Boscov’s opening too many out-of-state stores at once – had brought the company to its knees.

“Boscov couldn’t stand to see his family’s business fail or the 7,000 employees lose their jobs. So he came back, righted the ship and continues to serve as company chairman.

“Boscov also has fought to fix Reading’s downtown and its neighborhoods, helping to bring new ventures such as the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts and the Reading Movies 11 and IMAX theater, and leading Our City Reading, which has renovated more than 500 homes it sold to first-time buyers.

“At 83, he’s still going strong.

“‘It’s like he invented more than 24 hours in a day,’ said Edward J. Swoyer Jr., Greater Berks Development Fund president and chief executive.

“‘When it comes to the art of the deal, he’d still put Donald Trump to shame,’ Para said.

“A knack for making friends

“It seems everyone who knows Boscov has good stories about him.

“That includes former Reading Mayor Joe Eppihimer. When he took office in 2000, he didn’t know Boscov, but took his call one morning and agreed to meet him at Reading Regional Airport, not knowing what Boscov had in mind.

“Boscov convinced the mayor to get on a small company plane and head to Washington for a meeting with then-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez.

“When they got off the plane, a big, black stretch limousine was waiting for them.

“‘I felt like the prince of Bel Air,’ Eppihimer said.

“The limo took them to the HUD office, and when they entered, everyone on the floor greeted Boscov, saying, ‘Hey, Mr. B., how are you?’

“Martinez walked in, shook hands with Boscov and said, ‘You’re the guy who keeps asking for all the money!’”

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