Gap, Inc.

Apparel RetailFounded 1969- HQ today: San Francisco, California

Founders

Who Founded Gap?

Donald Fisher, Doris F. Fisher · Founded 1969 · HQ today: San Francisco, California

Who founded Gap?

Gap was founded by Donald Fisher, Doris F. Fisher in 1969 in San Francisco, United States. It is now led by Richard Dickson.

Founders: Donald Fisher, Doris F. Fisher
Founded: 1969
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Number of founders: 2
Current CEO: Richard Dickson (since 2023)

Where was Gap founded?: Gap was founded in San Francisco, United States in 1969. wikidata.org
When was Gap founded?: Gap was founded in 1969.
Who started Gap?: Gap was founded by Donald Fisher and Doris F. Fisher.
How old is Gap?: Gap is 57 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Donald and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco in 1969 after Donald struggled to find Levi's jeans in his size at a department store. The store sold Levi's and records, and the name came from the 'generation gap'. Gap later moved to private-label clothing, went public in 1976, bought Banana Republic in 1983, and launched Old Navy in 1994.

Donald Fisher

Co-founder 1969

Background

Donald Fisher was a San Francisco real estate developer who opened the first Gap store in 1969 after struggling to find Levi's jeans in his size. He led the company's expansion and later its shift to private-label clothing.

Role at Gap, Inc.

Donald Fisher co-founded Gap with his wife Doris in 1969, opening a store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco that sold Levi's jeans and records. The name referred to the 'generation gap'. Fisher led the company through its 1976 IPO and its growth into a national chain, recruited Mickey Drexler in the 1980s, and remained involved as chairman for decades. He died in 2009.

Donald Fisher was born in 1928. Education: University of California, Berkeley; Haas School of Business.

Doris F. Fisher

Co-founder 1969

Background

Doris F. Fisher co-founded Gap in 1969 and is credited with suggesting the name 'The Gap'. She worked in merchandising and served on the company's board for many years.

Role at Gap, Inc.

Doris F. Fisher co-founded Gap with Donald Fisher in 1969 and is credited with naming the company after the 'generation gap'. She worked in merchandising in the early years and later served on Gap's board. The Fisher family has remained a significant shareholder group.

Doris F. Fisher was born in 1931 in San Francisco.

Doris Lee Feigenbaum Fisher was born on August 23, 1931 and died on May 2, 2026. Donald Fisher, her co-founder, was her husband.

Gap, Inc.: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Richard Dickson

President and Chief Executive Officer

2023 – Present

Under Dickson, Gap reported net income of $844 million in fiscal 2024 and $816 million in fiscal 2025, up from $502 million in fiscal 2023, with eight straight quarters of positive comparable sales through Q4 fiscal 2025.

Bob Martin

Interim Chief Executive Officer

2022 – 2023

He managed the highly publicized, catastrophic termination of the Yeezy Gap partnership and initiated the search that resulted in the hiring of Richard Dickson to revive the struggling brands.

Sonia Syngal

Former Chief Executive Officer

2020 – 2022

Her tenure ended in July 2022 amid inventory problems and a weak Old Navy performance.

Art Peck

President and Chief Executive Officer

2015 – 2019

Sales at the Gap brand kept falling and the board removed him in November 2019. The Old Navy separation was cancelled two months later.

Glenn Murphy

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2007 – 2014

He expanded Gap in China and online and bought Athleta in 2008. Art Peck succeeded him in 2015.

Millard "Mickey" Drexler

President and Chief Executive Officer

1995 – 2002

Gap sales grew to more than $13 billion under him. He left in 2002 after a long run of falling comparable sales and later led J.Crew.

Keep researching Gap

Who Founded Gap? FAQ

Who founded The Gap and when was the first store opened in San Francisco?

The Gap was founded on August 21, 1969, by Donald Fisher and his wife Doris F. Fisher in San Francisco, California. They opened their first retail store at 1950 Ocean Avenue near San Francisco State University, selling Levi's jeans, audio cassettes, and vinyl record LP albums.

What original consumer problem inspired Donald and Doris Fisher to create The Gap?

In 1969, Donald Fisher, a commercial real estate developer, visited a local department store to buy Levi's jeans but couldn't find his size in the disorganized stacks. Frustrated, he and Doris realized there was a large market opportunity for a dedicated store that stocked every Levi's size, style, and fit organized neatly on shelves.

What was the origin and meaning behind the name 'The Gap'?

Doris Fisher suggested the name 'The Gap', referencing the widely discussed 'generation gap' between Baby Boomer youth culture and their parents in the late 1960s, positioning the store as a rebellious, youthful destination for casual denim fashion.

How did Doris Fisher contribute to the founding and growth of Gap Inc.?

Doris Fisher invested $21,000 of personal savings to launch the store, served as the primary merchandiser and company treasurer, managed store operations, and served on Gap Inc.'s Board of Directors until 2009, championing corporate culture and ethical workplace standards.

When did Gap transition from a retailer of Levi's to manufacturing its own private label?

In 1974, Gap introduced its first private-label 'Gap' branded jeans and casual shirts. By the early 1980s under Mickey Drexler, Gap completely phased out third-party brands like Levi's to become a 100% vertically integrated private-label apparel leader.

When did The Gap complete its initial public offering on the stock exchange?

The Gap went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1976 under the ticker symbol 'GPS' (later transitioned to ticker 'GAP'), raising capital that funded rapid nationwide shopping mall expansion across America.

What enduring philanthropic legacies did Donald and Doris Fisher create?

Donald and Doris Fisher were monumental philanthropists who co-founded the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) charter school network, founded the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics at UC Berkeley, and donated their high-quality modern art collection to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

How did the founders' original vision transform the global casual clothing industry?

Donald and Doris Fisher transformed denim from utilitarian workwear into ubiquitous global fashion, pioneering the modern specialty retail store model and creating an enduring American casual style embraced by generations worldwide.

Who founded Gap?

It was founded by Doris and Don Fisher. They were absolute pioneers of "specialty retail." Before Gap, people bought clothes in massive, cluttered department stores. The Fishers invented the modern apparel store: a massive, clean space featuring a single brand, with clothes perfectly folded on tables instead of hidden on messy racks.

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Who founded Gap?

Founding Story

Donald Fisher

Background

Role at Gap, Inc.

Doris F. Fisher

Background

Role at Gap, Inc.

Gap, Inc.: CEO & Leadership History

Keep researching Gap

Who Founded Gap? FAQ

Who founded The Gap and when was the first store opened in San Francisco?

What original consumer problem inspired Donald and Doris Fisher to create The Gap?

What was the origin and meaning behind the name 'The Gap'?

How did Doris Fisher contribute to the founding and growth of Gap Inc.?

When did Gap transition from a retailer of Levi's to manufacturing its own private label?

When did The Gap complete its initial public offering on the stock exchange?

What enduring philanthropic legacies did Donald and Doris Fisher create?

How did the founders' original vision transform the global casual clothing industry?

Who founded Gap?

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