Burlington Stores
Burlington Stores, Inc. (formerly Burlington Coat Factory) is a national off-price retail chain headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey, in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Founded in 1972 by Monroe Milstein as a coat outlet, Burlington has grown into one of America's largest off-price department stores with over 1,000 locations selling brand-name merchandise at discount prices. The company dropped "Coat Factory" from its name in 2014 to reflect its broader merchandise offerings, which now include apparel, footwear, accessories, home goods, and more. Burlington remains a significant Delaware Valley employer with deep roots in the Philadelphia region.[1]
History
Origins (1972)
Burlington was founded in 1972:
Beginning:
- Monroe Milstein founded company
- Purchased coat factory outlet in Burlington, NJ
- Wholesaler turned retailer
- Coat focus initially
Burlington Coat Factory
Growth:
- Expanded coat factory concept
- Low-price positioning
- National expansion
- Name recognition
Expansion
20th century:
- Hundreds of stores
- East Coast focus initially
- National footprint
- Department store format
Bain Capital Era
Private equity:
- Taken private by Bain Capital (2006)
- Operational improvements
- Strategic repositioning
- Returned to public market
Burlington Rebrand (2014)
Name change:
- Dropped "Coat Factory" from name
- Reflected broader merchandise
- Modernized image
- Same value positioning
Modern Era
Today:
- 1,000+ stores
- National presence
- Off-price leader
- Continued growth
Business Model
Off-Price Retail
Value proposition:
- Brand-name merchandise
- Discount prices (up to 60% off)
- Opportunistic buying
- Treasure hunt experience
Merchandise
Categories:
- Apparel (men's, women's, kids')
- Coats (heritage category)
- Footwear
- Accessories
- Home goods
- Baby and kids
Buying Strategy
Opportunistic:
- Closeouts
- Overruns
- Pack and hold
- Vendor partnerships
Store Format
Environment:
- Large format stores
- Departmentalized
- Value signage
- High inventory
Operations
Store Count
Network:
- 1,000+ stores
- 45+ states
- Puerto Rico
- Continued expansion
Distribution
Logistics:
- Distribution centers
- Rapid replenishment
- Buying agility
- Supply chain
Real Estate
Locations:
- Strip centers
- Former big-box locations
- Suburban focus
- Value-oriented sites
Philadelphia Region
Burlington, NJ Headquarters
Corporate base:
- Named after headquarters city
- New Jersey location
- Philadelphia metro
- Delaware River
Employment
Regional jobs:
- Headquarters staff
- Distribution center
- Store operations
- Thousands employed
Heritage
Local roots:
- Founded in region
- Named for location
- Long-term presence
- Community connection
Competition
Off-Price Rivals
Competitors:
- TJX Companies (TJ Maxx, Marshalls)
- Ross Stores
- Nordstrom Rack
- Other discounters
Market Position
Standing:
- Third-largest off-price
- Strong coats heritage
- Growing market share
- Value positioning
Financial Performance
Growth
Metrics:
- $10+ billion revenue
- Consistent growth
- Store expansion
- Margin improvement
Stock Performance
Market:
- NYSE: BURL
- Retail sector
- Growth trajectory
- Investor interest
Culture
Brand Identity
Positioning:
- Value-focused
- Fashion for less
- Family oriented
- Treasure hunt experience
Company Culture
Workplace:
- Retail entrepreneurship
- Value creation
- Customer focus
- Growth mindset
Challenges
Competition
Market pressures:
- TJX dominance
- E-commerce growth
- Retail consolidation
- Market saturation
Inventory Management
Operational:
- Buying complexity
- Trend timing
- Inventory control
- Markdown management
Economic Sensitivity
Cycles:
- Consumer spending
- Discretionary retail
- Economic conditions
- Value resilience
Future
Strategy
Growth plan:
- New store expansion
- Small format tests
- Digital development
- Operational efficiency
Opportunity
Runway:
- Underpenetrated markets
- Off-price shift continues
- Store optimization
- Category expansion
See Also
References
- ↑ "Burlington". Burlington Stores. Retrieved December 31, 2025