If you walked into a shopping mall anywhere in America between 2005 and 2015, you couldn't miss it. The yellow bags. The thumping house music. The absolute mountain of $5 camisoles and $15 jeans. Forever 21 was the undisputed king of the "look like a million bucks for the price of a burrito" era. But most people asking when did Forever 21 open are surprised to find out that the brand wasn't some corporate invention from a boardroom. It was a gritty, 19-hour-a-day hustle started by two immigrants with $11,000 and a dream that felt almost impossible at the time.
Honestly, the origin story is way more "American Dream" than most people realize.
The Figueroa Street Miracle: 1984
It all started on April 16, 1984.
Do Won Chang and his wife, Jin Sook Chang, had only been in the United States for three years. They moved from South Korea to Los Angeles in 1981, and life wasn't easy. Do Won was working three jobs at once—he was a janitor, a gas station attendant, and he pulled shifts at a coffee shop.
While he was pumping gas, he noticed something. The guys driving the nicest cars? They were all in the garment business.
That was the "lightbulb" moment. He and Jin Sook pooled every cent they had—just $11,000 in savings—and opened a tiny, 900-square-foot shop in the Highland Park neighborhood of LA.
It wasn't even called Forever 21 yet
The original name was Fashion 21.
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It’s kinda funny looking back, but the store was originally targeted at middle-aged Korean-American women. Jin Sook, who had been a hairdresser back in Seoul, had this incredible eye for what was trendy. She could spot a look on a runway or a celebrity and figure out how to get a version of it into their shop faster than anyone else.
The success was instant. Like, "holy crap" instant.
In that first year, the 900-square-foot store went from $35,000 in sales to **$700,000**. They weren't just selling clothes; they were selling speed. Because they worked with local manufacturers in Los Angeles, they could get new styles on the floor while the big department stores were still waiting for their shipments to clear customs.
Changing the Name and Taking Over the Mall
By 1987, the Changs realized they had something much bigger than a neighborhood shop. They rebranded as Forever 21. The idea was simple: everyone wants to feel 21 forever. The name change coincided with a massive shift in their strategy. They weren't just for "middle-aged women" anymore; they were for anyone who wanted to look trendy on a budget.
- 1989: They opened their first mall-based store at the Panorama City Mall in California.
- 1995: The brand finally left California, opening a location in Miami.
- 2001: They launched "XXI Forever," which were massive flagship stores that sometimes took up 20,000 square feet or more.
By the time the mid-2000s rolled around, Forever 21 was a juggernaut. They were moving into the spaces vacated by old-school department stores like Mervyn's and Sears. It felt like they couldn't lose.
The Peak: $4 Billion and Yellow Bags Everywhere
At its height around 2015, Forever 21 was doing over $4.4 billion in annual sales. The Changs, who started with $11,000, were suddenly worth nearly $6 billion. They had over 800 stores globally.
They also kept it a family affair. Their daughters, Linda and Esther, joined the company to help with marketing and creative direction. If you ever looked at the bottom of a Forever 21 bag and saw "John 3:16," that was the family's faith showing through—a small detail that became a signature of the brand.
What Went Wrong? (The 2025 Reality)
You've probably noticed your local Forever 21 looking a bit... empty lately. Or maybe it's gone entirely.
The retail landscape shifted hard. While Forever 21 was the original "fast fashion" disruptor, they eventually got disrupted themselves. Brands like Shein and Temu took the "fast" part to an extreme that a physical store just couldn't match.
The "Chapter 22" Struggle
In a move that shocked many, Forever 21 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019. They closed hundreds of stores and were eventually bought by a consortium including Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group.
But the "sequel" wasn't much better.
On March 16, 2025, Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy again—often called a "Chapter 22" because it's the second filing. This time, the news was grimmer. By May 1, 2025, the company began liquidating all 354 of its remaining U.S. stores. The "de minimis" tariff loophole used by Chinese e-commerce giants made it impossible for Forever 21's mall-based model to survive.
Key Takeaways for Today
So, when did Forever 21 open? It opened in 1984, flourished in the 90s, dominated the 2000s, and effectively saw its U.S. retail era end in 2025.
If you're a fan of the brand, here is what you need to know for the rest of 2026:
- Online is the new flagship: While the physical U.S. stores have largely vanished or shifted into liquidation, the brand name still exists. Authentic Brands Group owns the IP and continues to sell through the website and international licensees.
- The Shein Partnership: In a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" move, Forever 21 actually partnered with Shein recently. You can now find Forever 21 products on the Shein platform.
- International Presence: If you’re traveling to places like Mexico or parts of Asia, you’ll still see Forever 21 stores. The bankruptcy mostly nuked the U.S. brick-and-mortar footprint.
The legacy of that 1984 opening changed how we shop forever. It taught a whole generation that fashion shouldn't be exclusive to the rich. Even if the giant mall stores are a thing of the past, the "fast fashion" genie is never going back in the bottle.
If you're sitting on old gift cards or looking for those specific F21 fits, your best bet now is checking their official site or the Shein app, as the "liquidation" phase of the physical stores is officially in the rearview mirror as of early 2026.