Gymboree

Gymboree is a well-established children’s apparel brand with a long history in North America. The company began in San Francisco in 1976, initially offering parent-child play programs before shifting its focus to retail clothing a decade later. Over the years, Gymboree became known for its cheerful, coordinated outfits for children, building a strong reputation for quality and themed collections that resonated with families.

After expanding to hundreds of mall-based stores, Gymboree faced significant challenges as the retail landscape changed and competition intensified. The company filed for bankruptcy in both 2017 and 2019. In March 2019, The Children’s Place, Inc. acquired the Gymboree brand and its intellectual property, marking a turning point for the business. Following this acquisition, all standalone Gymboree stores were closed, and the brand was relaunched with a new strategy centered on digital retail and shop-in-shop locations within The Children’s Place stores.

As of November 2025, Gymboree operates 200 shop-in-shop locations across the United States and Canada, with its full collection also available online. The brand continues to focus on special-occasion and everyday children’s clothing, often collaborating with respected partners, such as the 2025 holiday capsule with New York City Ballet. In the past five years, Gymboree has shifted away from standalone stores and franchise models, instead leveraging the established footprint and customer base of The Children’s Place to reach families through both physical and digital channels.

For commercial real estate professionals, Gymboree’s current approach offers a stable, integrated retail format within a larger, proven network. The brand’s evolution reflects broader trends in omni-channel retail and provides a consistent presence in key markets across the U.S. and Canada.