San Francisco mother Joan Barnes created the Gymboree Play and Music Program in 1976 when she couldn't find a safe place for new parents and children to play and exercise together. There are now locations across the United States and Canada. There are now franchises in Bogota, Colombia; San Paulo, Brazil; Hangzhou, China; and in total, 30 countries around the world. The centers' main purpose is to help children stimulate their development through music, exercise, art, and other activities as well as helping parents know how to participate in furthering their children's mental and physical growth.

Gymboree classes include a multi-colored clown named Gymbo. The children interact with Gymbo following his "demonstrations" of activities and usually ending with "good-bye kisses". Other class activities include time playing with parachutes, playing with bubbles, and climbing on cushioned equipment. Classes are open for Infants to age 5. Music played at Gymborees is often by the children's band Parachute Express.

In 1986, Gymboree opened a chain of clothing stores also named Gymboree. Gymboree stores offers coordinating children's clothing. The sizes range from birth to age twelve.

Gymboree, in its current incarnation (it has reorganized several times) is incorporated under the Gym-Mark, Inc nameplate. It currently operates 580 Gymboree Retail, 80 Gymboree Outlet, 100 Janie & Jack, and 20 Crazy 8 stores selling children's apparel in the United States. It franchises nearly 300 Gymboree Play & Music centers around the globe. Gymboree operated a chain of 17 women's clothing stores called Janeville until all locations closed by January 2007.

External links

• Official site
• New York Times article on the structure of the corporation.