Beall’s keeps it in the family with new CEO

The great grandson of the founder of Beall’s has taken the reins of the family-owned retail chain.  

Beall's Inc. announced that Robert Matthews Beall III (Matt) has been named CEO. He succeeds Steve Knopik who was the first non-family member to lead the company. Knopik, who was promoted to CEO in 2006 when Bob Beall (father of Matt Beall) stepped down from the role, will remain as executive chairman.

“Matt Beall is a brilliant and decisive executive who cares deeply about our company, our associates and our guests,” said Knopik. “The board, the senior leadership team and I have great confidence that he will guide us to even greater heights in the future.”

The new chief executive is the great-grandson of Robert Matthews Beall, Sr, who founded Beall’s in 1915, and the fourth in a succession of leaders from the Beall family to guide the company for more than 100 years. 

Egbert "ER" Beall, Matt's grandfather, joined his dad in the business in 1940. After starting out as a store manager in 1970 Matt's father, Bon, led the retailer as president and CEO from 1980 through 2006. He remained on as chairman of the until his retirement in 2017.

Headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, Beall's operates more than 550 stores in 17 states under the banners of Bealls, Bealls Outlet, Burkes Outlet, Home Centric and Bunulu. (It is not affiliated with Bealls Stores operated in Texas by Stage Stores).

Matt’s experience includes serving as a store manager and working in nearly every corporate function including buying, planning, marketing, exclusive brands, finance, logistics and store operations. Most recently Matt has served as the president of Beall's Stores.