Burlington (department store)

Burlington

File:Burlington (company) logo.svg Logo used since 2019
Company type	Division
Industry	Retail
Founded	1972 (1972)
Founder	Monroe Gary Milstein, Henrietta Milstein
Headquarters	Burlington Township, New Jersey , United States
Area served	United States (47 states and Puerto Rico)
Key people	Tom Kingsbury (former CEO 2008–2018), Mark Nesci (acting CEO post-2006 acquisition)
Products	Apparel, accessories, home furnishings, infant products
Owner	Bain Capital (since 2006)
Number of employees	Not specified
Parent	Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation
Website	www.burlington.com

Burlington, previously known as Burlington Coat Factory, stands as a prominent American off-price department store chain, operating over 1,100 outlets throughout 47 states and Puerto Rico. Its headquarters are situated in Burlington Township, New Jersey, and it functions as a division under Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation. After being acquired by Bain Capital in 2007 and relisting on the stock market in 2013, Burlington ranks as the third largest off-price retailer, following TJX Companies and Ross Stores.

History

Since 1946, Monroe Gary Milstein and his father Abe managed a wholesale and retail outerwear enterprise. In 1972, Monroe and Henrietta Milstein acquired a former factory outlet located in Burlington, New Jersey, which became the foundation for Burlington Coat Factory. Originally concentrating on outerwear, the business broadened its inventory to encompass apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and infant products to mitigate seasonal sales fluctuations.

The company’s second location debuted in 1975 on Long Island, where Monroe’s son Lazer returned from Israel to oversee operations with a commitment to closing the store on Saturdays in observance of the Sabbath. By 1983, with a total of 31 stores, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation went public.

In 2006, Bain Capital purchased the company for $2.06 billion. The Milstein family realized approximately $1.3 billion from their nearly 30 million shares. Following this acquisition, Mark Nesci was named acting CEO. Burlington Coat Factory Holdings Inc. was formed as the parent entity.

Monroe Gary Milstein died in May 2025.

In 2012, Burlington received a $40 million incentive through New Jersey’s GrowNJ program to develop a new corporate headquarters in Florence, ensuring the company maintained its New Jersey presence.

The firm filed for an initial public offering in June 2013, with shares climbing more than 40% on their first day of trading in October. At that point, Burlington operated 503 stores under various banners including Burlington Coat Factory and Baby Depot. Annual sales for the fiscal year ending August 2013 reached $4.35 billion.

Burlington made its debut on the Fortune 500 list in 2016. Tom Kingsbury held the CEO position from 2008 through 2018.

In response to recent retail bankruptcies, Burlington pursued strategic growth by acquiring leases for over 40 former Bed Bath & Beyond sites in June 2023 and securing leases for 15 Conn’s locations following their closures in 2024. These real estate moves have expanded Burlington’s market presence through opportunistic acquisitions.

Charitable partnerships

Since 2002, Burlington has been a supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night campaign, contributing over $19 million through donations collected at its stores. In 2013 alone, more than $3 million was raised during this annual event.

In 2006, the company initiated the Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive in collaboration with ABC's Good Morning America and Fashion Delivers, facilitating the collection and distribution of upwards of 1.2 million coats via local charitable organizations.

Beginning in 2012, Burlington partnered with WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease to advance heart health awareness. The retailer hosts an annual Red Dress Event, donating one dollar from each red dress sold. In 2014, it launched the “Heart of Style Tour,” a traveling health program providing blood pressure and BMI screenings alongside heart health professionals at various store locations.

Business challenges

The Humane Society of the United States criticized Burlington Coat Factory for marketing genuine fur products under the label "faux fur." An undercover probe uncovered that certain items advertised as "faux fur" actually contained animal pelts imported from China, prompting the company to eliminate deceptive marketing materials. Further analysis revealed the presence of raccoon dog fur in some coats sold by Burlington, raising ethical and regulatory concerns regarding their merchandise.

Between 1981 and 2009, Burlington Coat Factory included the phrase "Not Affiliated with Burlington Industries" in its branding due to a trademark agreement. Although Burlington Industries ceased operations in 2004, this disclaimer was retained until 2009 as part of a deliberate branding strategy aimed at clarifying corporate identity and enhancing its market position.

In the early 1990s, an urban myth circulated alleging that snakes were concealed within coats sold by Burlington; company officials refuted these claims, emphasizing the controlled nature of their retail environments which made such scenarios implausible.

The retailer’s inaugural Manhattan store located at 45–47 Park Place incurred substantial structural damage during the events of September 11, 2001, when debris from United Airlines Flight 175 struck the building. This location later became a focal point in a nationwide debate surrounding the proposed development of the "Cordoba House," a Muslim community center near Ground Zero, illustrating complexities tied to property holdings and public sentiment in sensitive contexts.

See also

• TJX Companies
• Ross Stores
• List of department stores of the United States