Emmanuelle Chriqui and Luke Schenn Help Celebrate Opening of First Express Store in Canada

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR), the specialty retail apparel chain operating close to 600 stores, celebrated the launch of its first ever Canadian store at Fairview Mall on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011. Special guests included HBO's Entourage star Emmanuelle Chriqui and Toronto Maple Leafs' Luke Schenn, who were both outfitted in Express. Michael Weiss, CEO of Express, also attended the event. The first 200 customers who arrived at the store received a special edition Express painted Canada flag tee.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110923/NY74514 )

"Canada is the perfect country for Express' first foray into wholly-owned international bricks and mortar locations thanks to its cosmopolitan cities filled with young, fashionable men and women," said Michael Weiss, president and chief executive officer of Express.  "We sincerely appreciate the warm welcome we have already received from the Canadian people and look forward to expanding our reach as a fashion authority and to the growth potential of the brand in this new market."

The product assortment in Canada mirrors that of U.S. stores, including the iconic Editor Pant and 1MX Shirt. The Editor Pant is Express' best-known, best-selling, most popular women's pant and stands for sexy style, fine fabric, and a flawless fit. The 1MX, Express' best-selling men's shirt features an engineered collar, endless color options and an exclusive signature stretch fit.

The Express store at Fairview Mall features a sleek white color palette with touches of black, white lacquer fixtures and an open ceiling plan. The store has been designed to give women and men access to a stimulating shopping environment where both can shop for the latest trends and everyday fashion essentials. 

Fairview Mall is located at 1800 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario. The Express store is located on the lower level at entrance two. Regular store hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Express Fairview Mall store phone number is (416) 491-4763.

Express in Canada

By the end of 2011, Express will be opening six-dual-gender store locations throughout Toronto and Calgary with the goal of fifty Express locations throughout Canada over the next five years. By the end of September, Express will be open at Fairview Mall in Toronto and Lime Ridge Mall in Hamilton. In November, three locations will open in Calgary - Southcentre Mall, Chinook Centre and Market Mall, with an additional store at Square One in Toronto.

About Express, Inc.:

Express is a specialty apparel and accessories retailer of women's and men's merchandise, targeting the 20 to 30 year old customer. The Company has over 30 years of experience offering a distinct combination of fashion and quality for multiple lifestyle occasions at an attractive value addressing fashion needs across work, casual, jeanswear, and going-out occasions. The Company currently operates over 590 retail stores, located primarily in high-traffic shopping malls, lifestyle centers, and street locations across the United States and in Puerto Rico, and also distributes its products through the Company's e-commerce website, express.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact and may herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding plans to open new stores. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are (1) changes in consumer spending and general economic conditions; (2) our ability to identify and respond to new and changing fashion trends, customer preferences and other related factors; (3) increased competition from other retailers; (4) our growth strategy, including our international expansion plan; (5) our dependence on a strong brand image; and (6) our dependence upon key executive management. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Express, Inc.'s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2011. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE Express, Inc.