Abercrombie & Fitch is a lifestyle brand that was founded in 1892 in New York City by David T. Abercrombie as an outfitter for the elite outdoorsman The company was an elite outfitter of sporting and excursion goods, particularly noted for its expensive shotguns, fishing rods, fishing boats, and tents. The first store, founded by David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, sold high-end sporting and travel gear from its Manhattan, NY location. The company closed in 1976, but the brand was revived in 1978 by Texas reatiler Oshman's Sporting Goods, who purchased the Abercrombie & Fitch name and operated primarily as a mail order company, with boutiques in Beverly Hills, CA, Dallas, TX and New York, NY. American clothing company The Limited purchased the company name and operations in 1988, and has re-branded the company as a high-end casual luxury clothing and lifestyle brand for the youth market.