A $370M political firestorm: Inside the furious backlash of blame for Burlington’s move from N.J.
Retailer Burlington Stores is moving its corporate headquarters and 2,000 employees out of New Jersey after 50 years to relocate to Philadelphia. The Fortune 500 company is buying an office building in University City's Schuylkill Yards, a move developed through a $370 million plan touted by Pennsylvania Governor and city officials. Brandywine Realty Trust is involved with the Schuylkill Yards project. The transition has triggered a political firestorm and furious backlash of blame within New Jersey regarding the loss of the major corporate tenant.
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- ✓ Burlington Stores is moving its corporate headquarters and 2,000 employees to Philadelphia.
- ✓ The Fortune 500 company is purchasing a University City office building in Schuylkill Yards.
- ✓ Pennsylvania Governor and city officials touted a $370 million plan for the relocation.
- ✓ The retailer is walking away from New Jersey after 50 years.
What changed
Burlington Stores officially announced its relocation from New Jersey to Philadelphia, sparking an intense political debate over the loss.
Live updates
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Burlington Stores Relocates Headquarters in $370M Move
Retailer Burlington Stores is moving its corporate headquarters and 2,000 employees out of New Jersey after 50 years to relocate to Philadelphia. The Fortune 500 company is buying an office building in University City's Schuylkill Yards, a move developed through a $370 million plan touted by Pennsylvania Governor and city officials. Brandywine Realty Trust is involved with the Schuylkill Yards project. The transition has triggered a political firestorm and furious backlash of blame within New Jersey regarding the loss of the major corporate tenant.
Why it matters
The departure of a Fortune 500 company after half a century in New Jersey creates significant economic and political repercussions. Pennsylvania leadership has heavily promoted the multimillion-dollar transition to attract major corporate infrastructure to Philadelphia's University City.
What is confirmed
- Burlington Stores is moving its corporate headquarters and 2,000 employees to Philadelphia.
- The Fortune 500 company is purchasing a University City office building in Schuylkill Yards.
- Pennsylvania Governor and city officials touted a $370 million plan for the relocation.
- The retailer is walking away from New Jersey after 50 years.
Still unconfirmed
- Specific political figures or policies are directly to blame for the corporate exit from New Jersey.
What to watch next
- Finalization of the office building purchase in Schuylkill Yards
- Further responses and accountability measures from New Jersey officials regarding the corporate departure
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (9)
- Inquirer.com — Burlington Stores is moving its headquarters to Philadelphia
- WHYY — New Jersey clothing retailer Burlington will relocate its headquarters and 2,000 employees to Philadelphia
- nbcphiladelphia.com — Pa. Gov, mayor tout $370M plan to move Burlington Stores HQ to Philly
- bizjournals.com — Fortune 500 company buying University City office building, moving headquarters to Philadelphia
- The Business Journals — What does Burlington’s move to Schuylkill Yards mean for Brandywine Realty Trust?
- Yahoo Finance — Major retail store walking away from N.J. after 50 years in a stunning $370 million move
- The Daily Pennsylvanian — Burlington Stores to move corporate headquarters to University City
- NJ.com — A $370M political firestorm: Inside the furious backlash of blame for Burlington’s move from N.J.
- NBC10 Philadelphia — Pa. Gov, city officials tout $370M plan to move Burlington Stores HQ to Philly
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