American Eagle Buys Iowa-based Tailgate Clothing Co.

American Eagle Outfitters purchased Iowa-based Tailgate Clothing Co. and plans to open as many as 200 stores in college towns in the Midwest and Southeast, the two companies announced Tuesday.

The deal, worth $11 million in cash and stock, gives American Eagle, a shopping mall retailer known for selling pique polo shirts and faded jeans to teenagers, a foothold in the collegiate-apparel market.

Tailgate Clothing Co. makes and sells vintage-looking T-shirts and other apparel emblazoned with the logos of college teams and local bars, along with T-shirts paying tribute to local landmarks like Prairie Lights, John's Grocery and Pagliai's Pizza.