Rue 21 is a private company owned by the private equity group Apax Partners. The company is based out of Warrendale, Pennsylvania, and was founded in 1976. With more than 1000 retail locations in malls and shopping centers and an e-commerce store, Rue21.com, the company is one of the most successful retailers of casual clothes for teenagers in the United States. The store caters to boys and girls aged 11 to 18 with the number 21 used to suggest that the fashions and accessories offered at the store will help tweens and teens look and feel more grownup and cool.