Brand Overview

Who We Are

Based in San Francisco, California, Gymboree Corporation designs, manufactures, and retails unique, high quality apparel and accessories for children and women. The company has retail businesses under the Gymboree, Janie and Jack, and Janeville names. Gymboree operates more than 600 stores in the United States and Canada as well as an online business. The company also operates parentchild developmental play programs for infants through age five. There are more than 530 play and music centers in the United States and 24 other countries, many of which are franchises.

Gymboree is a children's clothing retailer that was founded in 1976 in San Francisco. The company originally offered play and music classes for children, but later expanded into clothing retail. It grew rapidly in the 1990s and early 2000s, operating over 1,200 stores across several brands. However, the company struggled financially due to changing consumer preferences and increased competition, and filed for bankruptcy in 2017. It was later purchased by The Children's Place, which continues to operate the brand through its website and select retail stores.

Expansion Began

Expansion began in earnest in 1979 when the first franchises were awarded.

32 Retail Stores

By 1989 there were 32 retail stores operating, but they were not performing up to investor expectations, and the company brought in outside help.

Sales Began to Falter

Gymboree earned a profit in the first quarter of 2002 after struggling with two years of losses. Harper continued to make improvements in oper-ations and was named CEO.