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Born out of one small store at the corner of 16th and Chicago in Omaha, Gordmans has undergone several transformations throughout the past 100 years -- rebranding, renaming, repositioning and changes in ownership. In August, it added online shopping.  

This summer, Gordmans opened two new stores in Lansing, Michigan, and Edina, Minnesota, that gave the retailer the coincidence of having 101 stores in operation during its centennial year.

"Not many companies can come close to fulfilling that promise, or lasting that long," Andy Hall, president and chief executive officer of Gordmans said in a news release.

Across its 22-state footprint, it will conduct a number of anniversary promotions and community programs, including its "100 Acts of Charity."

In Lincoln, its store is located at Lincoln Crossing, 27th and Superior streets. 

Present-day Gordmans began with Sam Richman, a Russian immigrant who started a small retail store in Omaha in 1915. Years later, Dan Gordman, a former Bloomingdales executive, was headed west to start a new career. 

His '32 Chevy broke down in Omaha, according to the company history. While awaiting repairs, Dan met Esther Richman, whom he would marry, and begin a lifelong business relationship with her father, Sam.

Richman Gordman stores started then. 

Over several decades, Richman Gordman added more stores in Omaha and Lincoln, and eventually, elsewhere in Nebraska along with communities in Iowa and Kansas.

Dan Gordman is credited with pioneering the "racetrack-shopping configuration" in 1974, making it easy for shoppers to navigate a big-box store.

The racetrack or loop layout offers a clearly defined main aisle that circles through the store like a race track. 

Loop layouts offer maximum product exposure, according to retail designers.  Dan Gordman also introduced centralized checkouts, shopping carts and self-service shoes through his growing retail chain.

In 1975, they started a second group of retail outlets, Half Price Stores. By 1990, the company had grown to 16 Richman Gordman stores and 16 Half Price Stores.

Jeff Gordman, Dan's great granson, joined the company in 1990, and by 2000, all the stores were renamed Gordmans.

Jeff Gordman was president and CEO from 1996 until he retired in March 2014 to pursue outside interests. In September 2008, Jeff Gordman sold the company to Sun Capital Partners, one of the largest private equity firms in the country. 

The company issued Gordmans common stock to the public in 2010 and 2012.

From 2012 to 2014, Gordmans increased its store base by more than 30 percent. In fiscal year 2014, revenues reached $635 million.

In 2012, Forbes magazine ranked Gordmans No. 29 on its list of America’s 100 best small-cap companies based on sales and earnings growth. Apparel magazine ranked Gordmans No. 48 on its 2014 list of the Top 50 leading apparel retailers.

As a value retailer, Gordmans offers name-brands at a discount from prices at specialty and department stores.

Merchandise includes apparel and footwear for men, women and children, home decor, gifts, designer fragrances, fashion jewelry, bedding and bath, accent furniture and toys.

The company has 5,300 employees. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq market.