Retail Ventures was originally created in 2003 as a holding company for , and
Value City Department Stores. The retailer originally went public in 1991 under the Value City moniker. Value City went on to purchase the DSW shoe business in 1998 and Filene's Basement in 2000.
Schottenstein Stores Corp. of Columbus, which holds controlling interest of Retail Ventures, also holds a stake in the 221-store DSW chain. Jay Schottenstein, chairman and CEO of DSW, is chairman of Retail Ventures and heads Schottenstein Stores Corp. Value City Stores are known as Schottenstein's in the
Columbus, Ohio market in honor of its founder Ephraim Schottenstein.
Retail Ventures Inc stated in Dec, 2006 that it had retained Financo Inc and CIBC World Markets Corp to advise it about "strategic alternatives," including a possible sale, for its Value City Department Stores division.
