U.S. Retailer Opens in Pacific Centre

TORONTO, July 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR), the specialty retail apparel chain operating over 600 stores, celebrated the grand opening of its first store in British Columbia at Vancouver's Pacific Centre on Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mark Salling, star of the hit television show glee, and 90210 star Shenae Grimes, both outfitted in Express, were on hand to mark the opening of the new Canadian location.

"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, Chairman, President & CEO of Express.  "We sincerely appreciate the warm welcome we have already received in Canada and look forward to expanding our reach with new customers and to the growth potential of the brand in this new market."

Express at Pacific Centre offers Canadian men and women the individual style and unrivalled attitude that has made the brand a fashion authority in the U.S. for over 30 years. Express represents a distinct combination of fashion and quality for multiple lifestyle occasions at an attractive value, and addresses fashion needs across work, casual, jeanswear, and going-out occasions. 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, most popular women's pant and stands for sexy style, fine fabric, and a flawless fit. The 1MX, Express' iconic men's shirt, features an engineered collar, endless colour and fit options and an exclusive signature stretch.

Featuring the latest Express store design, the 8,000 square foot location reflects an elevated in-store experience showcasing elements of refined chic combined with forward-thinking design to create an individual space and sense of style. This combination of modern design and unrivaled attitude truly solidifies Express as a fashion authority in the mall.

Pacific Centre is located at 701 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. The Express store is located on the second level near Coach. Regular store hours are Monday to Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Express Pacific Centre store phone number is (604) 669-5717.

Express in Canada
By the end of 2012, Express expects to have opened seven to ten dual-gender store locations throughout Canada and plans to open up to 50 locations over the course of the next several years. Express currently has six stores in Ontario and Alberta.

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 600 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 goals and plans for international growth and 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 28, 2012. 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.

Image with caption: "Glee's Mark Salling and 90210's Shenae Grimes celebrate the grand opening of the EXPRESS store at Pacific Centre in Vancouver, BC on July 12, 2012 (CNW Group/Express, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120712_C8170_PHOTO_EN_16223.jpg