History of Old Navy in Timeline

Old Navy, an American clothing and accessories retailer owned by Gap Inc., is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Known for its flagship stores, Old Navy has a significant presence in cities like New York City, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Manila, and Mexico City.

1993: Gap Warehouse Establishment

In 1993, Gap Inc. responded to Dayton-Hudson Corporation's new division by opening Gap Warehouse in existing Gap outlet locations. This was the precursor to what would later become Old Navy.

March 11, 1994: Old Navy Clothing Co. Launch

On March 11, 1994, Gap Warehouse was renamed Old Navy Clothing Co. and the first Old Navy locations opened in Colma, San Leandro, and Pittsburg, California. This rebranding aimed to establish a separate image from Gap Inc.

December 1995: Coffee Shop Experiment

In December 1995, Old Navy experimented by opening a coffee shop inside one of its locations in San Francisco.

April 1997: Old Navy Kids Launch

In April 1997, Old Navy opened an Old Navy Kids location in Littleton, Colorado, although this initiative was terminated by September of the same year.

1997: Old Navy's Rapid Growth

In 1997, Old Navy became the first retailer to achieve $1 billion in sales within its first four years, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth.

2000: Expansion to 500 Stores

By 2000, Old Navy had expanded its presence to 500 stores, demonstrating its rapid growth and popularity.

2001: International Expansion

In 2001, Old Navy began its international expansion by opening 12 stores in Ontario, Canada.

2005: Rebranding with High Fashion Feel

In 2005, Old Navy's president Dawn Robertson initiated a rebranding to compete with Hollister Co. and American Eagle Outfitters, featuring a high fashion feel with new store designs and advertisements. This rebranding proved to be a disappointing investment.

July 12, 2011: Project ONE Launch

By July 12, 2011, Old Navy began a rebranding initiative called Project ONE, which aimed to create a family-oriented environment with better lighting, vibrant colors, and more efficient store layouts.

2012: Leadership Change to Stefan Larsson

In 2012, Stefan Larsson, an H&M executive, was hired to lead Old Navy. He instituted several changes, including hiring designers from top brands, which significantly boosted Old Navy's sales.

2015: Sales Milestone and Leadership Change

By 2015, Old Navy's yearly sales had reached $6 billion in the U.S. Stefan Larsson left to join Ralph Lauren and was replaced by Sonia Syngal.

July 25, 2016: Incident Leading to Lawsuit

On July 25, 2016, a customer named Saudia Scott was falsely accused of theft by an Old Navy manager in Abingdon, Maryland, leading to a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed on April 23, 2018.

October 26, 2017: Opening of New Flagship Stores

On October 26, 2017, Old Navy opened two new flagship stores, including one in Times Square, New York City, which featured extended store hours and more retail space.

April 23, 2018: Lawsuit Filed Against Old Navy

On April 23, 2018, Saudia Scott filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Old Navy and Gap Inc. following an incident of false accusation of theft on July 25, 2016.

February 28, 2019: Planned Separation from Gap Inc.

On February 28, 2019, Gap Inc. announced that Old Navy would become an independent company, separating from Gap Inc. to consolidate older and newer brands.