Almost half a century ago, Karl Offenbacher opened a small pool service business. Since then, Karl and his wife Alpana have grown that business to over 350,000 square feet of privately-owned Specialty Retail stores serving the greater DC / Baltimore Metro and beyond. Their seven retail stores consist of three stores in Maryland located in Columbia, Hunt Valley and Rockville, and four stores in Virginia located in Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Springfield and Sterling. Offenbacher’s has 50 employees and operates a 120,000-square-foot warehouse and clearance center.
Today, the Offenbachers announced their retirement and acquisition of their business. When asked what he would like to say about his many years in the outdoor industry, Karl Offenbacher stated, “It’s been my life since I can remember. Alpana and I love the business and we have made many life-long friends over the years. Our success can only be credited to all of the wonderful relationships we have built with great manufacturers and their dedicated service and loyalty to Offenbacher’s over the years.” Alpana added, “We believe in our slogan ‘There’s No Place Like Home’ and we hope we have contributed to the family fun in many homes in our area. We truly love this industry and the beautiful products we have been able to offer the home-owners in our area!”
Based in Lanham, MD, Offenbacher’s includes seven retail stores specializing in mid to high- end patio furniture, cushions, umbrellas and accessories; a full line of home recreation including billiards, family games and game room furniture and accessories; an un-equaled fireplace department boasting wood, gas and pellet choices in heating and decorative stoves, plus accessories; an amazing selection of grills and smokers; and finally, a large selection of spas and chemicals.
“The name Offenbacher is so well-known by everyone in the outdoor, recreation and hearth industries,” said General Manager and Senior Buyer Mark Ramos, who will continue his role after the Offenbachers’ retirement. “They are respected and loved by our retail peers, manufacturers and sales reps alike. Karl and Alpana are personally involved in the day-to-day aspects of each of their eight locations and are truly icons in this industry,” he continued.
Karl and Alpana will be working closely with the new owners to make this a smooth transition for everyone involved. “We are retiring and giving them the reins to expand and grow the company,” said Alpana. “However, Karl and I will remain with the company as consultants, providing them with guidance and advice. The brand name Offenbacher’s will stay the same as will all our very dedicated, hard-working and loyal staff members. We’d like to say a sincere thank you to each and every member of our staff.”
Offenbacher’s has been acquired by Antson Capital Partners, LLC, a private equity firm focused on acquiring small to middle market companies and their associated real estate. Co-founder Jason Pappas will serve as Chairman of the Board and investor Andrew Cohen has been named CEO. They both intend to be hands-on in the day-to-day operation of Offenbachers and will utilize their respective experience to grow the business.
“The acquisition of Offenbacher’s is an exceptional opportunity to purchase a company that not only has strong name recognition, but an array of high quality products in the expanding Washington/Baltimore market,” said Pappas. “It is a very successful brand that presents significant growth opportunities in the region.”
The billing address and all phone numbers will remain the same. Offenbacher’s can be reached at 301-794-8794.