The store format that combines American Eagle and Aerie under one roof is AE+Aerie.
American Eagle Outfitters operates two major consumer brands: American Eagle, known for casual apparel and denim, and Aerie, which began with intimates and expanded into activewear, loungewear, swimwear, and accessories. In an AE+Aerie location, shoppers can browse both brands in the same retail space rather than visiting two separate stores.
This format is also described in company filings as an “Aerie side-by-side” location connected to an AE brand store. That accounting terminology can cause confusion: the brands may have distinct sections and merchandising, while still sharing one physical location. Aerie merchandise is also sold inside some American Eagle stores and online, so not every Aerie product location is a standalone Aerie shop.
Aerie began as a sub-brand in 2006, and its first standalone store opened in Greenville, South Carolina, later that year. The combined format reflects American Eagle’s strategy of presenting complementary apparel brands together.