Limited Brands opened the first Express store in 1980 under the name “Limited Express” in Chicago. In 1981 Express had eight stores, and in 1986 250 stores.
In 2007 Limited Brands sold a 75% stake in the company to the private equity firm Golden Gate Capital Partners. In 2010 Express became a publicly trades company and Golden Gate began to reduce its ownership of the company and as of 2012 relinquished ownership.
Today Express operates 625 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, Express stores sell trendy private-label apparel and accessories to young women and men and are mostly located in malls.
Express trades publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol EXPR, is a member of the Russell 2000, is #913 in the Fortune 1000, has 18,000 employees, and had $2.17 billion in revenue in 2014.
