WEST PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – After more than a half-century in New Jersey, Burlington Stores Inc. is moving its corporate headquarters to Philadelphia.
“We are one of the fastest-growing retailers in America, and as we evaluated different options for our new corporate home, we were strongly attracted to the energy, talent, and infrastructure that Philadelphia has to offer,” Michael O’Sullivan, Burlington’s chief executive officer, said during a press conference with local and state officials at Schuylkill Yards, a masterplanned development project by Brandywine Realty Trust and Drexel University that is the site chosen by Burlington for its future home.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro described the move as “the largest headquarters relocation to the city in years” and one of the largest ever to the Keystone State.
“We made clear we wanted Burlington right here in Philly. It’s a big deal, and it’s proof that everything we’re doing to make our commonwealth more attractive to great companies like Burlington is working,” Shapiro said during the event.
Pennsylvania is investing $30 million in the project. The City of Philadelphia is also providing financial incentives.
O’Sullivan said the decision to relocate is based on Burlington’s need for more space. The company has been in Burlington Township, N.J., since its founding in 1972, initially operating out of a factory under the name Burlington Coat Factory. The retailer dropped coat from its name in 2009 to better reflect diversification of its product assortment.
Burlington’s merchandise mix has been further reconfigured since O’Sullivan’s arrival in 2019 after 16 years at Ross Stores, a Dublin, Calif.-based retailer of closeout merchandise.
Burlington recently said it is on pace to add 110 net new stores in 2026, many featuring updated layouts, signage and fixtures intended to give shoppers an uncluttered path to name-brand apparel, footwear, and home goods offered at lower-than-prevailing prices.
