Healthy Back Store
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1994 in Rockville, Maryland, United States |
| Founder | Anthony Mazlish |
| Defunct | September 20, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Beltsville, Maryland , United States |
Area served | United States (7 states) |
| Products | Back care and physical ailment relief products |
Healthy Back, frequently referred to as The Healthy Back Store, was a retail chain headquartered in Maryland and Virginia that specialized in products designed to alleviate back pain and address physical ailments. Established in 1994 by Anthony Mazlish in Rockville, Maryland following his personal experience with a back injury, the business focused on a specialized market niche for back care solutions. The company discontinued its operations as of September 20, 2023.
At the height of its operations, Healthy Back managed 19 retail locations spanning seven states, with its main corporate office situated in Beltsville, Maryland. It held the distinction of being the largest independently operated back care retailer, with online sales representing 40% of total revenue by the year 2008. On April 1, 2015, the business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.
Acquisitions
During the late 1990s, Healthy Back expanded its footprint by acquiring three Natural Back Stores located in California, increasing its total outlets to eight. In 2008, the company acquired JoAnne's Bed and Back, a Maryland-based chain, for $600,000 following JoAnne's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. At the time of this acquisition, Healthy Back reported annual revenues of $40 million, whereas JoAnne's generated $10 million annually. Notably, JoAnne's played a pivotal role in inspiring founder Mazlish’s venture into the back care industry after he purchased a back cushion from their Tyson's Corner store in 1993.
By 1998, the four dominant retailers specializing in back-related products—Healthy Back Store, Better Back Store, Relax the Back, and JoAnne's Bed & Back Shops—collectively achieved annual sales totaling $75 million.