Cost Plus World Market Celebrates Fifty Years of Fabulous Finds.

San Francisco Bay Area-based Retailer's 50(th) Anniversary on Thursday, October 23 Kicks Off Weekend of In-Store Events and Shopping Benefitting San Francisco and Oakland Schools

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Fifty years ago, the idea of Cost Plus World Market began when San Francisco businessman William Amthor put his entrepreneurial spirit to work and set up a business of selling rattan baskets and furniture from overseas along the city's famed Fisherman's Wharf. San Franciscans took to his merchandise quickly -- loving the prices and the authenticity of the imported merchandise as well as the uniqueness -- they had never seen any store like it before.

The first Cost Plus World Market store opened on October 23, 1958 at 2552 Taylor Street in San Francisco. Amthor named the store after his pricing strategy, "cost plus 10 percent," making it clear to the customer that the prices would be affordable. Amthor traveled regularly to Asia and Europe scouting bargains and bringing back an eclectic mix of merchandise. At any time in the store in the 1960s and 1970s, one could find pottery from Spain, gauze mosquito netting for your bed from Africa, carved collectibles from Indonesia, coffee presses from France, and the oddly square-shaped boiled egg mold from Japan. Cost Plus was the first to bring to market the Papasan Chair, the iconic symbol of 1960s counter-culture. And, still more than 40 years later, the Papasan Chair is as popular as ever, with new generations of students every year choosing the Papasan for their first home away from home.

Fast forward 50 years and Cost Plus World Market is now a chain of nearly 300 stores. Today, our merchants keep Amthor's adventurous spirit alive as they travel the globe to exotic places far and wide searching for unique, handcrafted items from local artisans in South America, Thailand, India, Morocco, and beyond - at last count the number was well over 70 countries. Buyers are bringing back sustainable and eco-friendly bamboo items from Asia, rugs from a family in Turkey who have been in business for generations, and wine from a little known producer in Burgundy, all at affordable prices. Homesick Brits stop in for the vast selection of imported foods from the U.K., candy lovers love the gourmet chocolates from Switzerland, and wine connoisseurs know they can find wine from some of the best wine regions of the world along with all the accessories that go with enjoying the bottle, including stemware from Germany.

This unique -- and often times quirky -- mix of indoor and outdoor furniture, decor, kitchen accessories, gourmet food and beverage, and seasonal, holiday items has all contributed to the success of Cost Plus, making it a one-stop destination for home entertaining and gift-giving needs. The mix also gives the store its well-known worldly, bazaar-like feel and continues to ensure that during each visit, customers will be treated to a sense of discovery as they wander the aisles and travel the world without boarding an airplane.

Celebrating its successful "50 years of fabulous finds," Cost Plus World Market has planned a series of in-store special events at its

flagship San Francisco store (2552 Taylor Street) beginning on Thursday, October 23 and continuing through Sunday, October 26. Throughout the weekend, customers will enjoy live entertainment, product giveaways, food and drink samplings, winemaker bottle signings, henna painting, and more. On Saturday, October 25, KGO-AM's Gene Burns of "Dining Around with Gene Burns" will broadcast his show live from the San Francisco store from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Chef Ryan Scott of Bravo TV's "Top Chef" Season 4 and chef/partner of Mission Beach Cafe will host a cooking demonstration from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm in the San Francisco store.

As part of its commitment to giving back to the community, Cost Plus will be donating a portion of its net proceeds from the San Francisco store during the anniversary weekend to San Francisco and Oakland schools.

All Bay Area stores will be joining in the celebration with a week-long "Go THERE from Here" Bali Spa Sweepstakes sponsored by Cost Plus World Market's THERE line of luxury bath products. California residents are invited to enter for a chance to win the Grand Prize of an indulgent spa vacation in Bali, Indonesia between October 19 and October 26, 2008. A second prizewinner will receive a Papasan Chair filled with World Market goodies (ARV: $500). No purchase necessary to enter or win the "Get THERE from Here" Bali Spa Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of California, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry; void outside of California and where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules, available at participating Cost Plus stores or by sending a SASE to: "Get THERE from Here Bali Spa Sweepstakes" Rules Request, c/o Haley Miranda Group, 8654 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232.

A full schedule of the free and public events can be found at www.worldmarket.com. Events subject to change without advance notice.

SAVE THE DATE

In the past, Cost Plus World Market has hosted local Bay Area chefs at its stores, from Martin Yan to most recently, Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in December 2007. Continuing to make the customer's in-store experience fun and exciting, Cost Plus is pleased to announce the upcoming book signing with Chef Tyler Florence on Sunday, November 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the San Francisco store (2552 Taylor Street; 415.928.6200). Chef Florence will be signing copies of his newest cookbooks: "Tyler Florence: Dinner at My Place" (Meredith Books, $19.95) and "Tyler Florence: Stirring the Pot" (Meredith Books, $19.95). A limited number of books will be for sale at the San Francisco store.

About Cost Plus World Market

Cost Plus World Market operates nearly 300 stores in 34 states under the names "World Market" and "Cost Plus World Market." The store features an ever-changing selection of casual home furnishings, housewares, gifts, jewelry, decorative accessories, over 500 international wines, gourmet foods and beverages offered at affordable prices and are imported from more than 50 countries. Many items are unique and exclusive to World Market regularly supplied by an international network of individual and regional artisans developed over the Company's nearly 50 years in the import business. The majority of the store's furniture is constructed of environmentally friendly, farm raised wood while a number of items are made out of recycled glass and yet countless are constructed of environmentally friendly bamboo. The value, breadth and continual refreshment of products invite customers to come back throughout a lifetime of changing home furnishings and entertaining needs. For more information, please visit www.worldmarket.com.