99 Cents Only Stores taps Cost Plus World Market exec as CEO

99 Cents Only Stores has found a permanent chief executive officer. 

The extreme-value retailer named Barry J. Feld as CEO, and board member, effective March 6, 2020. He replaces 99 Cents Only interim CEO Felicia Thornton, who will remain as vice chair of the board. 

Most recently, Feld spent 15 years as the CEO and president and, later, the executive chairman of Cost Plus World Market, which is owned by Bed Bath & Beyond.

Prior to joining Cost Plus, Feld was the chief executive of PCA International, an operator of specialty retail concepts in over 3,100 Walmart stores in five countries), Vista Eyecare (a retail chain of over 900 vision centers), and Frame-N-Lens Optical (which was then the largest chain of retail optical stores in California). 

"Barry's experience overseeing large, high-growth and innovative customer-focused businesses makes him ideally suited to lead 99 Cents Only Stores,” said Norman Axelrod, executive chairman. “We are delighted to have a seasoned executive with such notable merchandising, extreme value and leadership credentials joining the 99 Cents team.”

Founded in 1982, 99 Cents Only Stores currently operates 386 stores located in California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.