Gymboree
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (children's apparel and toys) |
| Founded | 1970s |
| Founder | Joan Barnes |
| Fate | Acquired by The Children's Place; ceased physical store operations in 2019 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States, Canada (former) |
| Products | Children's clothing and toys |
| Parent | The Children's Place |
Gymboree functions as a subsidiary brand under The Children's Place. Established by Joan Barnes during the 1970s, Gymboree managed retail outlets specializing in children's apparel and toys until the late 2010s.
Initial Phase
Gymboree introduced a retail chain in 1986 that featured coordinated children's clothing ranging from newborn sizes up to size ten. By January 2019, the enterprise operated a total of 380 Gymboree stores, 154 outlet locations, 147 Janie & Jack shops, 253 Crazy 8 stores, and 11 Crazy 8 outlet stores throughout the United States and Canada.
Launched in August 2007, Crazy 8 was designed to offer affordable children's clothing and competed directly with brands such as The Children's Place and Old Navy.
In 2010, Gymboree was acquired by private equity firm Bain Capital in a transaction valued at $1.8 billion.
Bankruptcy Proceedings and Reorganization
In June 2017, Gymboree filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, resulting in the closure of over 375 retail locations as part of its financial restructuring efforts. The company successfully emerged from bankruptcy by September of the same year.
Nevertheless, in November 2018, Gymboree announced a second Chapter 11 filing within a span of fourteen months and revealed plans to discontinue the Crazy 8 brand following the holiday season.
On January 17, 2019, Gymboree again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ceased operations of all physical Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, and Crazy 8 stores. Following this, the company divested its Janie & Jack label to Gap, Inc..
Play & Music Centers
In July 2016, The Gymboree Corporation divested its Gymboree Play & Music division to Zeavion Holding, a privately held firm focused on education and entertainment sectors. Now operating independently from The Gymboree Corporation, Play & Music provides parent-child interactive play classes for children aged zero to five. As of 2023, it runs over 733 locations across more than forty countries worldwide.
Subbrand Development
On June 24, 2019, The Children's Place acquired the assets of Gymboree and Crazy 8, subsequently relaunching Gymboree as a digitally focused subbrand featuring store-within-a-store formats inside The Children's Place retail outlets. In February 2020, an "early access" program was launched by The Children's Place for Gymboree’s first 10,000 registered customers.
Legal Matters
In November 2005, Gymboree resolved a $2.3 million legal claim in Riverside, California concerning unpaid overtime wages and missed meal break violations.