Philadelphia (June 29, 2011) - The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: "PBY"), the nation's leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain, is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
In honor of the entrepreneurial spirit of its founders, the Manny, Moe & Jack mascots will make special appearances at various museums, events and store openings across the country.
In conjunction with the anniversary year, Pep Boys is launching a nationwide search for branded memorabilia to uncover previously lost or unknown artifacts from the Company's past. Found items will ultimately come to rest in permanent display at the Pep Boys' corporate archives in Philadelphia. Noteworthy submissions may also be included in nationwide museum exhibits.
The 90th anniversary of The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack is more than just a company celebration of its success within the automotive industry; it commemorates the evolution as an iconic business. The forever-recognizable caricatures of the three Navy veterans that founded the company in 1921 changed the face of American advertising and were eventually implanted into American pop culture. Entertainment figures throughout the last fifty years have been quoted using the expression "Everyone including Manny, Moe & Jack..." In short, they were not only woven into the fabric of the American motoring experience, but also forever established in the country's pop culture lexicon.
Pop Culture Icons
Since the early days, the Pep Boys have always been recognized as pop culture icons. Shows from Mork & Mindy to The Simpsons have paid homage to Manny, Moe & Jack, while national broadcast hosts have long asked for "the Boys" to make appearances on shows such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Today Show, Jeopardy and The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Hollywood hasn't left them out either - Pep Boys appear in such movies as The American President, Earthquake, Boys on the Side and Poetic Justice to name a few. There was even a song called Manny, Moe & Jack written by punk rock group, the Dickies in 1979.
"We believe that Manny, Moe & Jack are the heart of the brand - they are the icons that differentiate us from the competition and their legacy lives on," said company President and CEO Mike Odell. "In the past 90 years, Pep Boys was witness to many of the greatest American achievements; we emerged from the depths of the Great-Depression, landed a man on the moon and ushered in the digital revolution with computers and the Internet. Through a mixture of hard work and good luck, we've had great fortune over the last 90 years and are proud to be considered an American institution. We look forward to what the next nine decades hold for the company and for America."
About Pep Boys
Since 1921, Pep Boys has been the nation's leading automotive aftermarket chain. With more than 7,000 service bays in more than 700 locations in 35 states and Puerto Rico, Pep Boys offers name-brand tires; automotive maintenance and repair; parts and expert advice for the Do-It-Yourselfer; commercial auto parts delivery; and fleet maintenance and repair. Customers can find the nearest location by calling 1-800-PEP-BOYS (1-800-737-2697) or by visiting www.pepboys.com.