Company History

Welcome to Christopher & Banks. We're a specialty women's apparel retailer serving the baby boomer woman and her desire for style, fit and value in everything she wears. We think women should feel comfortable in their clothes, and we're here to make sure that happens with versatile styles and exceptional customer service.

Our history dates back to 1956, when Gil Braun opened the first Braun's store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He believed in offering quality apparel at a great value and personalized service to everyone who walked through the door. By the time he retired, Mr. Braun had turned his vision into the wonderful shopping experience Christopher & Banks customers still enjoy today.

Brauns Fashions became a publicly traded company in March 1992, and in July 2000, we changed the name to Christopher & Banks, Corp. We also added the CJ Banks division to further serve our customers' lifestyle and size needs.

The Christopher & Banks division offers misses sizes 4 to 16 through 553 store locations as of November 29, 2008. Petites was launched in 95 stores October 2007, currently we carry Petites at 304 of our Christopher & Banks locations.

CJ Banks, our plus size division, opened its doors in the Fall of 2000. This brand is specifically designed for women who wear plus sizes 14W to 24W. As of November 29, 2008, there are 268 stores.

Christopher & Banks Corporation has grown to more than 800 women's specialty stores in 46 states. In addition, the Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks divisions launched their Web stores in February 2008, allowing customers even more convenient access across the nation.

We at Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks sincerely hope there's a concept that fits your style.

Christopher & Banks offers exclusively designed, coordinating clothing in sizes 4 to 16. We also offer a diverse selection of accessories to complete her every look. Christopher & Banks is the preferred destination for quality women's clothing and accessories. We consistently provide excellent service, selection and value.

CJ Banks is the ultimate shopping destination for women who wear plus sizes 14W and more. We believe size shouldn't limit selection and provide comfortable, quality clothing to satisfy her every need. These exclusively designed, coordinating selections are classic, comfortable, casual and colorful.