Destination XL Group

Destination XL Group, Inc. is a United States specialty retail company serving men who require extended sizes and longer proportions. Its principal retail identities are DXL and Casual Male XL, supported by the dxl.com e-commerce platform and mobile applications. The business focuses on big-and-tall clothing, footwear, and accessories, with merchandise spanning value-oriented products, private-label goods, and nationally recognized or designer brands. The company traces its origins to Designs, Inc., established in 1976 by Calvin Margolis and Stanley Berger. For much of its early history, Designs, Inc. operated Levi Strauss & Co.-branded mall and outlet stores rather than concentrating exclusively on the big-and-tall market. That earlier operating model changed materially in 2002, when the company acquired the Casual Male Big & Tall chain through a bankruptcy auction. Casual Male was then the largest specialty retailer in the United States focused on men's big-and-tall clothing. Following the transaction, the company disposed of its other businesses, adopted the Casual Male name, and concentrated its resources on the specialty apparel category. The group broadened its assortment and brand access in 2004 through the acquisition of Rochester Big & Tall Clothing. Rochester contributed exposure to higher-end and designer-oriented labels, including Robert Graham, Tommy Bahama, Cutter & Buck, Jack Victor, and Robert Talbott. The same year, the retailer engaged former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman as a promotional spokesman and associated his name with new clothing lines. In 2005, the store banner was changed from Casual Male Big & Tall to Casual Male XL, reinforcing the extended-size positioning in the customer-facing brand. A further format change began in 2010 with the opening of the first DXL store in Schaumburg, Illinois. DXL was designed as a broader and more aspirational retail concept, combining value merchandise with a greater presence of recognized and premium brands. The format became the basis for the company's digital expansion: in 2011, DestinationXL.com launched as an e-commerce site, later becoming dxl.com. The company also operates Android and iOS mobile applications. Its digital channels serve customers in the United States and reach additional markets including Canada, the United Kingdom, Greater China, and other international locations. Destination XL Group has operated retail and outlet locations across the United States under the DXL and Casual Male XL banners. Its assortment is intended to provide a consolidated shopping destination for customers who may find limited selection in conventional men's apparel stores. Products generally include shirts, trousers, denim, suits, sport coats, outerwear, underwear, sleepwear, shoes, and accessories in extended sizes and lengths. The company closed its remaining Rochester Clothing stores in 2019, leaving DXL and Casual Male XL as its principal physical retail identities. The group remains headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, and is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol DXLG.

Destination XL Group began in 1976 as Designs, Inc., founded by Calvin Margolis and Stanley Berger. The early company operated Levi Strauss & Co.-branded apparel stores in malls and outlet locations. This business model remained in place until 1995, when the company began moving away from its original exclusive operating focus. The decisive transformation came in May 2002. Designs, Inc. purchased the Casual Male Big & Tall chain at a bankruptcy auction. Casual Male was the largest United States specialty retailer dedicated to men's big-and-tall apparel at the time. After completing the acquisition, the company sold its other businesses, concentrated on the acquired chain, and adopted the Casual Male name. This created the foundation for the modern group's focus on extended-size men's fashion. In 2004, the company acquired Rochester Big & Tall Clothing. Rochester expanded the group's access to premium and designer merchandise, including brands such as Robert Graham, Tommy Bahama, Cutter & Buck, Jack Victor, and Robert Talbott. Also in 2004, former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman became a promotional spokesman for the chain and supported apparel lines carrying his name. The retail banner was renamed Casual Male XL in 2005. The company later developed a new store concept intended to provide a more extensive and brand-rich shopping experience. The first DXL location opened in Schaumburg, Illinois, in 2010. The format offered a range from value-oriented merchandise to luxury-oriented products and increased the role of nationally recognized brands. Building on the store concept's performance, the company launched DestinationXL.com in 2011. The site was subsequently rebranded as dxl.com, and the company added mobile applications for Android and iOS users. Destination XL Group's retail and digital operations serve customers looking for men's clothing in sizes and proportions that are not consistently available through general-market apparel retailers. Its assortment includes casualwear, business clothing, formalwear, outerwear, footwear, and accessories. Retail activity has been conducted through DXL and Casual Male XL stores and outlets, while digital commerce extends beyond the United States to Canada, the United Kingdom, Greater China, and other markets. The company closed all remaining Rochester Clothing stores in 2019. It continues to be headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, and is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker DXLG. The available reference material does not identify current or former named corporate executives beyond the company's founders, nor does it provide sufficient information for a fuller account of later financial performance or management changes.

• 2019

  Remaining Rochester stores close

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  All remaining Rochester Clothing stores are closed.

• 2011

  DestinationXL.com launches

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The company launches its e-commerce channel, later renamed dxl.com.

• 2010

  First DXL store opens

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The inaugural DXL store opens in Schaumburg, Illinois, introducing a broader, more brand-oriented format.

• 2005

  Stores are renamed Casual Male XL

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The former Casual Male Big & Tall store banner adopts the Casual Male XL name.

• 2004

  Rochester Big & Tall Clothing is acquired

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The transaction expands the group's designer and premium-brand assortment.

• 2002

  Casual Male Big & Tall is acquired

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchases Casual Male Big & Tall at a bankruptcy auction and refocuses the business on men's big-and-tall retail.

• 1995

  The original Levi Strauss store focus ends

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Designs, Inc. ceases operating exclusively through Levi Strauss & Co.-branded mall and outlet stores.

• 1976

  Designs, Inc. is founded

  [1]Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Calvin Margolis and Stanley Berger establish the company that would eventually become Destination XL Group.

Specialty big-and-tall men's apparel retailer with merchandise ranging from value-oriented basics to premium and designer-branded clothing.

• Retail format · 2010

  DXL

  DXL is the group's principal modern retail concept for men's big-and-tall apparel. The format was introduced in 2010 and was designed to offer a wider assortment than a basic specialty-size store, combining value-oriented merchandise with recognized and premium brands. Its range covers casual, business, formal, and seasonal clothing together with footwear and accessories.

• Retail format · 2005

  Casual Male XL

  Casual Male XL is the extended-size men's apparel store banner adopted in 2005 after the earlier Casual Male Big & Tall name was changed. The banner represents the company's long-standing specialty retail presence in the United States and focuses on clothing, footwear, and accessories for big-and-tall customers.

• E-commerce platform · 2011

  dxl.com

  dxl.com is the group's online shopping channel. It originated as DestinationXL.com in 2011 and was later rebranded. The platform extends the company's assortment beyond physical stores and serves customers in the United States as well as selected international markets.

• Apparel

  Big-and-tall men's apparel assortment

  The core assortment includes shirts, trousers, denim, shorts, suits, sport coats, outerwear, underwear, sleepwear, and other men's clothing in extended sizes and lengths. The company positions the range across multiple price levels, from practical everyday basics to premium and designer-influenced merchandise.

• Retail format · 2004

  Rochester Clothing

  Rochester Clothing was a group retail banner associated with premium and designer-oriented big-and-tall apparel. Through the Rochester Big & Tall acquisition, the company gained access to labels including Robert Graham, Tommy Bahama, Cutter & Buck, Jack Victor, and Robert Talbott. All remaining Rochester Clothing stores were closed in 2019.

• 2004George Foreman spokesperson program

  United States

  The company used former champion boxer George Foreman as a promotional spokesman and associated his name with new apparel lines.

  Outcome. The available source confirms the endorsement and branded clothing initiative but does not report campaign spending, sales results, or a formal end date.

  Source

• 2019

  Close the remaining Rochester Clothing storesStrategy

  Background

  Rochester Clothing had remained part of the group's retail portfolio after the 2004 acquisition.

  Action taken

  The company closed all remaining Rochester Clothing stores.

  Aftermath

  The group's principal retail identities became DXL and Casual Male XL, supported by the dxl.com digital channel.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch DestinationXL.comProduct launch

  Background

  The company expanded the DXL concept beyond physical stores and sought to serve customers through digital commerce.

  Action taken

  It launched DestinationXL.com, later rebranding the site as dxl.com, and developed Android and iOS mobile applications.

  Aftermath

  The digital channel broadened the company's reach to customers in the United States and additional international markets.

  Source

• 2010

  Introduce the DXL store conceptStrategy

  Background

  The company sought a broader retail presentation with greater representation of recognized and premium brands.

  Action taken

  It opened the first DXL store in Schaumburg, Illinois, with merchandise ranging from value-oriented to luxury-oriented products.

  Aftermath

  The DXL format became the basis for the company's subsequent e-commerce expansion.

  Source

• 2005

  Rename stores Casual Male XLStrategy

  Background

  The company had operated the acquired specialty chain under the Casual Male Big & Tall name.

  Action taken

  It changed the store name to Casual Male XL.

  Aftermath

  The revised banner continued to emphasize the extended-size customer while providing a shorter retail identity.

  Source

• 2002

  Acquire Casual Male Big & Tall and refocus the companyM&A

  Background

  Casual Male Big & Tall was acquired at a bankruptcy auction and was the largest United States specialty retailer in the men's big-and-tall market at that time.

  Action taken

  Designs, Inc. purchased the chain, sold its other businesses, and concentrated the company on the Casual Male specialty retail operation.

  Aftermath

  The transaction established the company's enduring focus on men's big-and-tall apparel and led to the adoption of the Casual Male name.

  Source

1. 1Destination XL Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Destination XL Group official websitedxl.com