With a revolving line of credit and a term loan offered by Bank of America, it was announced that the chain would have 195 stores and 7,000 employees.

Erlbaum, having preexisting experience from creating the Philadelphia-based store chain Mr. Good Buys (now defunct), was able to give knowledge to Youtie.

Youtie and Erlbaum changed the store model in the late 1980s with a warehouse off Interstate 95 where they stocked designer gowns, discontinued dress and manufacturer overruns at below retail prices.

[1] In 2012, the company agreed to be acquired by the private-equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) for a price around $900 million.

[11] After emerging from bankruptcy in January 2019, the retailer is now managed by a group of lenders including Oaktree Capital Group[12] and Tom Lynch, former chief executive at Frederick's of Hollywood, succeeded Key as the interim CEO in March - it also announced the former interim chief revenue officer and CFO at National Stores, Curt Kroll, would take the role of CFO.

[13] On June 24, 2019, David's appointed James A. Marcum as the chief executive officer, replacing Lynch who had been the interim CEO.

[14] David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy in November 2018, emerging two months later under ownership of a group of lenders including Oaktree Capital Management (OCM).

[17] On April 17, 2023, David's Bridal filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again, citing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertain economic conditions, and could close all of its stores and liquidate if a buyer is not found within the next few weeks.

[citation needed] On July 14, 2023 Oaktree Capital Management announced it would sell Davids's Bridal to CION Investment Corporation.