PIR

Pier 1 Imports Inc

A retailer of imported home furnishings and decor, Pier 1 Imports filled its stores with rattan and wicker furniture, vases, candles, and tabletop goods drawn from around the world. It began in 1962 in San Mateo, California, as Cost Plus Imports, launched by Charles Tandy (later famous for RadioShack) after he loaned money to a struggling rattan importer. The name was changed to Pier 1 in 1966 to evoke a nautical port where overseas goods arrive.