Maloufs acquire Downeast

Downeast, a Salt Lake City-based women’s clothing and furniture company, has been purchased by Sam and Kacie Malouf, co-founders of Utah bedding and furniture company Malouf. Founded in 1991 by brothers Charlie, Bill and Jonathan Freedman, Downeast’s product lines are sold in retail stores throughout Utah, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada.

“As Utah businesspeople, Kacie and I are excited to work with Downeast — a community staple,” said Sam Malouf. “They’ve done an excellent job building their brand through a unique product line. We look forward to keeping that momentum while finding new prospects for growth.”

“We’re eager to learn from Sam and Kacie’s leadership as we start a new chapter in our company’s history,” said Downeast CEO Rich Israelsen. The Freedman brothers began Downeast by selling off-price clothing and furniture throughout the Wasatch Front. Gradually, they evolved into designing an in-house clothing line, which includes layering basic tees and essentials, monthly fashion collections and accessories, all under the Downeast label. The company then added its own furniture collection in 2016, which includes sofas, dining tables, accent chairs, occasional tables, bedroom sets and home accessories.