Barry J. Feld is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Director of 99¢ Only Stores, a multi-billion-dollar extreme value retailer headquartered in Los Angles, California. Prior to his role with 99¢ Only Stores, Mr. Feld was the Chief Executive Officer and President of Cost Plus World Market. He served in this role for fifteen years and concurrently acted as a Director of the Company during his tenure. During this time, Cost Plus operated as an independent, publicly traded, leading specialty retailer of casual home living and entertainment products inclusive of specialty food and wine. Under Mr. Feld's leadership, Cost Plus successfully merged with Bed, Bath, and Beyond in 2012. Following the merger, he led Cost Plus as a billion-dollar-plus, Omni Channel, wholly-owned subsidiary of Bed Bath based in Alameda, California. In 2018, Mr. Feld transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman prior to leaving the company in February 2019.
In addition to his role at Cost Plus, Mr. Feld recruited and established agile teams in an effort to develop transformation initiatives for the parent company, which served as foundational platforms for Next Generation Stores. His work included the comprehensive development and execution of “Beyond at Libertyview'', a multi-year redevelopment project in Brooklyn, New York. Beyond at Libertyview encompassed redesigned store concepts, eateries, and a contemporary event venue. This Beta platform was designed to test and scale innovative and new concept developments that would further inform and influence the performance of the broader fleet of Bed Bath stores.
Prior to joining Cost Plus World Market, Mr. Feld was President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of PCA International, Inc.
At PCA, he and his management team developed the Company into the largest operator of portrait studios and other specialty retail concepts inside of 3100 Walmart stores across five countries. Before beginning his role at PCA in 1999, Mr. Feld was the President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Vista Eyecare, Inc., a retail chain of 900 plus vision centers operating throughout the continental United States and Mexico. Mr. Feld joined Vista Eyecare as a result of an acquisition of New West Eyeworks, Inc., where he served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director. During his eight-year tenure at New West, Mr. Feld redirected the business by implementing a new merchandising strategy, improving the Company's operating efficiency, and establishing its managed optical care program.
Before joining New West Eyeworks in May 1991, Mr. Feld was President of Frame-N-Lens Optical, Inc., which was the largest retail optical store chain in California. During this time, he significantly expanded the chain while increasing profitability. He joined Frame-N-Lens Optical after serving with Pearle Health Services for ten years in progressively more senior management positions. Additionally, he served as an acquisition and turnaround specialist for optical retail groups acquired by Pearle.
Mr. Feld is an alumnus of Essex College and the Stanford University Executive Management Program. He was an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization for 20 years. He also served as a President and CEO for various specialty retail companies for over 30 years. Furthermore, to the above-mentioned operating roles, Mr. Feld currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at the Retail Management Institute of Santa Clara University. He leads and collaborates with both C-level private sector executives and academic professionals developing curriculum to educate students on the retailing paradigm shifts that are now underway.