American Eagle Outfitters was founded in 1977.
The company was created by brothers Jerry and Mark Silverman, whose family operated Silverman’s Menswear. They launched American Eagle as a new chain focused on casual clothing, footwear, and accessories, including merchandise associated with outdoor and leisure activities.
The first American Eagle Outfitters store opened at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Michigan, in 1977. During the 1980s, the chain expanded through shopping malls and also developed a catalog business. In 1989, the owners refocused their retail operations around American Eagle.
The Silverman family sold its remaining interest to the Schottenstein family in 1991. American Eagle later sharpened its focus on private-label casual apparel for young consumers. The 1977 founding date is distinct from 1994, when the company began trading publicly, and from 2007, when its headquarters moved to Pittsburgh’s SouthSide Works.