American Eagle Outfitters was launched as a division of Silvermans Menswear, Inc. in 1977.
Mark Silverman, CEO of Silvermans Menswear, and Jerry Silverman, COO, were the third-generation running the family business. The brothers decided to diversify the company’s product line to grow the company and to be able to open more than one store in the same mall.
The company grew throughout the 1980’s and had 137 stores in 1989. At that point the brand began to lose money and the Schottensteins bought out the Silverman brothers to become owners of the brand. 
The Schottensteins changed the direction of the company, which found its present niche in casual clothing for men and women.
American Eagle Outfitters went public in 1994, trading on the NASDAQ. The money infusion from the IPO helped the company to open 90 additional stores the following year. 
In the years following the company refocused on the demographics of people between the ages of 18 and 32, to great success.
Current CEO Jay Schottenstein said in an April 2021 interview that he expected retail stores to have a “roaring 20’s” type of comeback after the pandemic.
Today American Eagle Outfitters has 911 stores and 158 Aerie stand-alone stores, has almost 23,000 employees, and had $3.61 billion in revenue in 2016.
American Eagle Outfitters was launched as a division of Silvermans Menswear, Inc. in 1977.
Mark Silverman, CEO of Silvermans Menswear, and Jerry Silverman, COO, were the third-generation running the family business. The brothers decided to diversify the company’s product line to grow the company and to be able to open more than one store in the same mall.
History
The company grew throughout the 1980’s and had 137 stores in 1989. At that point the brand began to lose money and the Schottensteins bought out the Silverman brothers to become owners of the brand.
The Schottensteins changed the direction of the company, which found its present niche in casual clothing for men and women.
American Eagle Outfitters went public in 1994, trading on the NASDAQ. The money infusion from the IPO helped the company to open 90 additional stores the following year.
In the years following the company refocused on the demographics of people between the ages of 18 and 32, to great success.
Current CEO Jay Schottenstein said in an April 2021 interview that he expected retail stores to have a “roaring 20’s” type of comeback after the pandemic.
Today American Eagle Outfitters has 911 stores and 158 Aerie stand-alone stores, has almost 23,000 employees, and had $3.61 billion in revenue in 2016.