Retail Intel: Skechers Surpasses 5,000 Stores + More
FN rounds up all the store openings, closings and redesigns happening this month, from throughout the footwear industry. Send your retail news to web@footwearnews.com.
Feb. 15, 2024: Skechers said on Thursday that it has surpassed 5,000 Skechers-branded retail store locations throughout more than 120 countries. Expanding the reach of Skechers shopping destinations currently operating globally, key openings leading up to the milestone have been in Chile, Greece, India, Mexico, South Korea, the United States, and the 5,000th store in Bogotá, Colombia. “Every Skechers store brings valuable engagement with consumers to build an increased awareness for our brand,” Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, said in a statement. “It started in 1995 with the original Skechers store opening in Manhattan Beach near our corporate offices. From there, we opened our first international store in Japan, the 100th in Times Square, the 3,000th in China and now our 5,000th store in Colombia. Every location offers the same look and feel to carry the Skechers brand with consistency across six continents. With an additional 140 to 160 more Company-owned stores planned this year and hundreds of stores opening annually with our partners, we are on the road to 10,000 Skechers stores.”
Jan. 11, 2024: REI Co-op announced plans to open 10 stores in 2024. Stores that are slated to debut in the spring include Beavercreek, Ohio, and Beaverton, Ore. There are three stores scheduled to open in the summer, including two in formerly occupied retail spaces (Arrowhead Promenade in Glendale, Ariz., and The River in Rancho Mirage, Calif.) and a third in Ithaca, N.Y. And in the fall, REI confirmed it will open in Albany, N.Y., and Tulsa, Okla. As for 2025, REI stated it will open a store in Durango, Colo., in the spring and in St. George, Utah, in the formerly occupied St. George Place in the fall. The stores, according to REI, will offer apparel, gear and expertise for cycling, running, hiking and more, and will feature full-service bike shops. As for the Utah location, REI will also include a ski and snowboard shop.
Dec. 27, 2023: Adidas has expanded its brick-and-mortar footprint in India. The German athletic giant has opened a store in the Urban Square Mall, which is located in Udaipur. The new store, which stocks shoes, sportswear, activewear and more from the brand, consumes 1,278 square feet and was designed in a stadium format.
Dec. 14, 2023: Revolve has opened a pop-up shop in Aspen, Colo., showcasing selections from both Revolve and Fwrd. This is the first time customers can explore and shop from both sites in one physical store. The store will feature a range of brands, from emerging designers to men’s wear, beauty products, and accessories. In addition, Fwrd Renew will enhance the experience with a unique offering of vintage and rare items.The store is located at 410 E. Hyman Ave and will be open from Dec. 15 to March 17, 2024. Revolve has also announced its exclusive partnership as the fashion and beauty retail partner for The Snow Lodge Après Ski Concert Series this winter season, where the retailer will spearhead the creation of fan experiences.
Nov. 20, 2023: After an extensive renovation, Tod’s has re-opened its flagship at 650 Madison Avenue. With a prime location in NYC for over 20 years, the Tod’s Madison Avenue flagship spans over 2,400-square-feet and features grand 14-feet-tall windows – allowing for sunlight to illuminate the store and reflect off the white travertine floors. The boutique’s design features a sleek and linear décor with interior walls covered in naturally tanned “Vacchetta” leather, a Tod’s signature material. Panels of Pietra Grigia di Vicenza stone float in front of walls to create a beautifully textured neutral background for Tod’s products to be displayed. Along the windows on 60th street, a double-sided bookcase in mirrored stainless steel and leather showcases and juxtaposes ready to wear, shoes and handbags, using narrow screens in carved travertine tiles and leather creating backgrounds in the vitrines. The Tod’s boutique on Madison Avenue houses men’s and women’s ready to wear, accessories and footwear collections, including Tod’s icons such as the Gommino and Di Bag as well as the new T Timeless collection.
Nov. 20, 2023: Louis Vuitton has opened its newly redesigned and expanded store at Galleria Dallas. Doubling the footprint size, the newly renovated space will offer a suite of Louis Vuitton’s métiers, including men’s and women’s accessories, fragrances, jewelry, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, travel and watches. Louis Vuitton’s historic tradition of hand-crafted customization is prevalent through an on-site artisan who works directly with clients to create custom artwork on hard-sided items and a hot-stamping service which offers clients the opportunity to personalize a variety of leather goods. The façade of the store features a custom built “flower blade’ design concept featuring a series of metal blades with polished edges that are individually constructed to create a composition of the maison’s signature monogram flower. Interior walls will be finished in custom millwork panels or specially selected wallpaper with custom fixtures and curated art and furniture throughout the space, including original artwork by Isadora Capraro.
Nov. 17, 2023: Loewe has opened its first store in Texas. Located in Highland Park Village in Dallas, the store hosts a full offering of women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. Taking its cue from creative director Jonathan Anderson’s Casa Loewe concept, the nearly 1,600-square-foot space features blue and white enameled tiles that grace the storefront and internal walls. Handmade and enameled in Spain, no two tiles are alike – their artisanal irregularities yielding a variety of hues and textures. Additional tactility is found in the form of Loewe’s signature podiums, crafted from a variety of materials including tiles and mesmerizing Viola and green Calcutta marble. Angular Utrecht chairs designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld sit alongside a soft leather bench, while antique Spanish vessels nod to the brand’s longstanding heritage. Underfoot handwoven Spanish rugs feature designs by textile artist and frequent Loewe collaborator John Allen, depicting abstracted pastoral scenes. Hand-picked pieces from Loewe’s anthology of art, sculpture and craft are displayed throughout the store. Contemporary American artist Walter Price’s Starry Sky (2022) is darkly atmospheric, acrylic gesso swirling across wood. Nearby a piece from the 2023 Loewe Craft Prize finalist Claire Lindner, Buisson nº2, hovers, its silhouette characteristic of the French ceramicist’s bulbous organic forms.
Nov. 9, 2023: Gabriela Hearst has opened its first store and flagship on the West Coast at the Beverly Wilshire, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The store is located along the street front of the prominent hotel, at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. Gabriela Hearst collaborated with architect Foster + Partners led by Norman Foster to design the store, the second one designed for the brand by the practice following the London flagship. What’s more, the brand commissioned designer-makers Benji Gavron and Antoine Dumas of Gavron Dumas Studio to design a collection of bespoke furniture. This furniture collection, called Nomad, is a culmination of a year’s-long work, which is featured in Gabriela Hearst’s retail spaces in South Korea as well as in past retail installations in Paris, Chicago and New York. The flagship will sell the entire range of Gabriela Hearst men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, fine merino wool and cashmere knitwear, footwear, accessories and handbags. The location will be the exclusive retailer for Gabriela Hearst handbag collection on the West Coast, including the Nina, the Demi, the Diana, and the Baez among others.
Oct. 19, 2023: A private cocktail party was held on Wednesday hosted by Lauren Hutton and Dianna Agron in celebration of the Giorgio Armani in-store boutique re-opening at Bergdorf Goodman, marking a relationship between the two companies that dates to the eighties. Guests from the entertainment, fashion, society, arts, and business worlds gathered with top clients at the Giorgio Armani Boutique at Bergdorf Goodman for the celebration. The revamped boutique, previously on the second floor, is now located on the fourth floor and features the ready-to-wear women’s collections, including the main clothing line, accessories and made-to-order services, as well as an exclusive selection of vintage garments from its newly developed Archivio range. “The history of Bergdorf Goodman makes it utterly unique and a crucial part of New York City in the collective imagination,” Armani said. “To me personally, it represents an important milestone: the first appearance of my creations in the United States and the beginning of the international success of Armani style. This new in-store boutique further reinforces an excellent longstanding relationship. It is a sign of new energy and loyalty, which I value deeply.”
Oct. 16, 2023: Palm Angels has opened a new store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. Located at 70 Greene Street, the new 2,300-square-foot store marks the third U.S. boutique for the Milan-based streetwear brand. The two-story space was designed by Gilles & Boissier and aims to capture the brand’s two founding pillars, the rigorous design and the poetic rawness of suburban environments, which serve as a humus for youth cultures. From the entrance, a striped pavement in black and grey marble, offers directions and invites to self-explore the interiors, the cabinet area in brown marble, the racks, shelves and counter in calamine with its industrial look interacting with niches and fitting room covered by raffia and finding a counterpoint with the succession of pink suspended ceiling. A black marble stair leads to the basement where the continuity of materials finds different functions and expression: the shelves are in raffia with black wood profiles, the cash area is panted in pink, while the fitting rooms are covered with palm tree pattern wallpapers.
Oct. 14, 2023: Amiri has opened a new story inside The Galleria luxury shopping center in Houston, Texas. Led by founder and creative director Mike Amiri, in partnership with design firm Two One Two Design, the 4,300 square-foot space is constructed around an immersive shopping experience, showcasing Amiri’s menswear, womenswear, childrenswear and accessories through an interactive, craft-centric environment. The Houston location employs familiar touchpoints found across all the brand’s retail locations, like a dynamic interplay of textures and a minimalist and inviting atmosphere punctuated by natural materials including natural oak, precious travertine and custom furniture. Highlighting Amiri’s artistic sensibility, the store exhibits site-specific artworks by U.S. artist and friend of the house, California-born artist Jason Revok, displaying pieces from his Instrument Frame Drag and Spirograph series.
Oct. 11, 2023: Banana Republic has opened its new flagship store at 152 Geary Street in San Francisco. The two-floor, 3,500-square-foot flagship experience in the heart of the city’s historic Union Square shopping district celebrates the brand’s San Francisco heritage and is a natural next step in Banana Republic’s retail transformation. Stepping inside the new BR Geary Street store, guests will discover a dynamic selection of ready-to-wear, accessories, and an assortment of the newly launched BR Home, including seating, dining furniture and a lighting installation that complements the apparel collections and empowers self-expression in modern living. “Our new flagship embodies exceptional quality, timeless design, and versatile styling that supports our consumer’s journey for a life well lived by offering them curated products that are an integral part of their daily lives, representing a new way to outfit themselves for the world,” Sandra Stangl, president and CEO of Banana Republic, said in a statement.
Oct. 9, 2023: Sorel Footwear will host its first-ever pop-up shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to celebrate the brand’s decades-long heritage. Honoring 50 years of the iconic Sorel Caribou silhouette, the pop-up will highlight a small run of key styles from the brand’s fall 2023 collection – the Caribou Royal, Caribou Clog, Caribou X Boot Lace, Kinetic Impact Puffy Zip, Joan Now Chelsea and ONA III Classic – available in the signature “Optimized Orange” colorway. The bold color scheme carries throughout the pop-up space, which will be open daily from Oct. 13 to Oct. 22, 2023. Consumers will be able to try on, shop and customize Sorel styles at an onsite charm and lace bar while exploring the space. Putting the brand’s heritage and evolution on display, the pop-up will also include a custom augmented reality experience for consumers to interact and engage with key styles. To further celebrate this landmark moment, Sorel has partnered with multi-hyphenate talent Chlöe Bailey on a limited-edition collaboration boot style that will be available exclusively at the Brooklyn pop-up.
Oct. 3, 2023: The Good Feet Store hit a major milestone. The retail franchise, which specializes in fitted arch support systems, has opened its 250th brick-and-mortar location, at 4400 Hwy 6 #200 in College Station, Texas. The store is operated by The Watermans, a seasoned franchisee group of Good Feet since 2010. This opening marks The Watermans’ 10th location in Texas, with additional stores in Allen, Alliance, Arlington, Fort Worth, Plano, Rockwall, Southlake, Temple and Waco. The Good Feet Store has been bullish on brick-and-mortar despite the consumer shift to online. In a statement, the company said that by year-end it will have opened 30 new doors in 2023, with 30 more expected next year, resulting in more than 300 stores by the end of 2024.
Oct. 2, 2023: StockX is partnering with Equinox to host a month-long pop-up store in New York City. Equinox’s Bond Street location will sell footwear and apparel from brands popular on StockX including Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Off-White, and more. Also available will be a range of offerings from brands Equinox already includes in its own stores, such as And Wander, Family First, Rains, Presidents, and more. Only Equinox members will be to shop the pop-up as it runs from Oct. 2 through Oct. 31.
The New York City popup comes as part of the Equinox Circle program, which curates luxury brands in the fashion and travel industries as well as others.
“StockX joined Equinox Circle earlier this year, a collective of partnership benefits curated for Equinox Members. With plans for a concept store at our Bond Street location already in the works, adding a StockX pop-up element seemed both necessary and natural,” Annie Walters, Equinox’s vice president of retail, told WWD in an exclusive announcement for the pop-up. “All the pieces came together, and the synergy of our apparel offering complimented by an assortment of StockX products organically suited both the Bond Street space and their member community.”
Sept. 25, 2023: Balenciaga has opened a new store in Beverly Hills, Calif., close to its existing Rodeo Drive location, which reopened in 2019. This second store will focus on women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories, eyewear, and jewelry, converting the nearby location into a menswear-focused store. Located at 418 N. Rodeo Drive, the new site is even more sizeable than its recently expanded sister store, its two levels amounting to a combined 5,900 square feet. Each floor is viewable from the street, via large glass panels that showcase the newest Balenciaga collections, and custom displays. The store’s design follows the brand’s experiential Raw Architecture concept and will feature a row of naturalistic mannequin arms in signature grey microsuede are mounted on a matching backdrop, posed to demonstrate the accessibility and tactility of Balenciaga’s new Monaco Bag line.
Sept. 19, 2023: Foot Locker has opened the doors to its newest community store in Chicago, Ill. Located at the Chatham Ridge Shopping Center at 112 W 87th Street, the 9,695-square-foot store features footwear, apparel and accessories from brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Hoka and more. According to the retailer, the store will offer exclusive, community-centric programming by partnering with local organizations, artists and community members for ongoing events to further support its new community. The exterior of the store features a mural titled, “Love Yours” which was created by local artist Eddie “Edo” White. The store is a celebration of the South Side community and Foot Locker hosted a two-day grand opening to celebrate the new store. The festivities kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by crep cleaning services, meal ticket giveaways, on-site sneaker customization, refreshments, live music by a DJ and more activities. Attendees received a gift with any Nike Air Force 1 purchase and three community groups were surprised with a free pair of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers that would be personalized by Shaun Redwell, shoe customizer and WNBA host.
Sept. 14, 2023: Italian specialty retailer 10 Corso Como is slated to pop-up inside Milano Centrale train station during the city’s upcoming fashion week. Located in the historic setting of the Galleria dei Mosaici, on the platform level, the shop will open on Sept. 10 and will remain open through the end of October. Accessories, shopping bags, handbags, trousseau, and candles made in collaboration with Italian and international workshops, along with Italian pasta and rice, Ligurian olive oil and Tuscan gin, in gift boxes made unmistakable by the black and white graphics, will be available for travelers from all over the world. The new 10 Corso Como Milan pop-up is part of series of traveling retail destinations the company started at Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany last year. The concept then traveled to Forte Village in Sardinia earlier this year. It’s the starting point of the new 10 Corso Como travel retail division that will focus on new retail projects around the world.
Sept. 14, 2023: Thom Browne is the latest designer to take over Nordstrom NYC’s Center Stage and Broadway Bar. From now into the beginning of October, Nordstrom NYC will celebrate Thom Browne fall 2023 with the launch of a dedicated Center Stage installation, a redesigned Broadway Bar featuring a custom menu, and made-to-measure program. The Center Stage assortment will consist of women’s ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, from outerwear to mix and match sportscoats, trousers and skirts, to cardigans, sweaters and woven tops. Alongside the ready-to-wear, Thom Browne@Nordstrom will also feature boots, loafers, heels, sneakers, handbags, tights and socks, to complete the sharp tailoring look. Prices range from $120 – $6,950. Across the street at the Nordstrom Men’s Store, customers can find the brand’s men’s assortment. The installation features a grey house, tying to the central motif of the brand’s fall 2023 image campaign, transporting visitors to “the end” where the land meets the sea. In addition to the pop-up shop, Thom Browne and Nordstrom will be hosting men’s and women’s made-to-measure events in Seattle (Sept. 14 – Sept. 17) and NYC (Sept. 29 – Oct. 1).
Sept. 13, 2023: A day after announcing it will expand in Michigan, Ross Dress for Less revealed it will open a new store in El Paso, Texas, on Oct. 7. The store will span 25,500 square feet and will be located in the Sierra Court Shopping Center. Ross Dress for Less, along with its DD’s Discounts banner, operate more than 2,000 off-price apparel and home fashion stores.
Sept. 12, 2023: Academy Sports + Outdoors will open its first store in Brenham, Texas, with grand opening festivities scheduled for Sept. 15 -17. The new door is located at 1041 Nolan St. and spans 63,000 square feet. Inside, Academy will stock shoes, apparel and sports and outdoors equipment from brands including Nike, Adidas, Brooks, The North Face and more. It will also dell products from its private label brands Magellan Outdoors, Freely, R.O.W., BCG, H2OX, Redfield and Mosaic. What’s more the Academy store will offer free services such as grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, bore sighting and more, and customers can also purchase hunting and fishing licenses. Over the grand opening weekend, Food Network star and former pro football player Eddie Jackson will make an appearance, and the Brenham High School cheer team, drumline and mascot will be attendance as well. There will also be exclusive deals and giveaways. This location is the fourth store the retailer has opened in 2023. Academy confirmed it will aim to open 120 to 140 new stores by the end of 2027.
Sept. 12, 2023: Ross Dress for Less is expanding its footprint in Michigan with a new store in Jackson. The location, which is scheduled to open on Oct. 7, spans 21,000 square feet. The store is located in the Jackson Crossing Shopping Center.
Sept. 1, 2023: REI Co-op has announced that it will open a store in Ithaca, N.Y., in summer 2024. The store will consume 17,000 square feet of real estate at 742 South Meadow St., and serve the 23,600 REI members in Ithaca. The upcoming store in New York — a state with 708,000 REI members — will include a full-service bike shop and a ski and snowboard shop staffed by certified mechanics, and will offer apparel and gear for camping, running, hiking, paddling and more. The closest REI store to Ithica is in Rochester, which is 92 miles away.
Aug. 24, 2023: H&M said on Thursday that it is now planning to gradually reopen most of its stores in Ukraine starting in November. As H&M continues to monitor developments in the country, the company added that preparations are being made to reopen the majority of its stores where possible. This move comes after the fast-fashion retailer temporarily closed all of its Ukrainian locations in February 2022 due to the Russian invasion. H&M Group said in a statement on Thursday that it is in contact with local stakeholders in terms of how to best support the country and local communities as they look to rebuild. In addition to previous donations supporting the people in Ukraine, the company said it will partner with organizations on the ground and engage in relief and rebuilding programs.
Aug. 24, 2023: Ross Dress for Less will soon open new stores in Pennsylvania and Washington. The retailer announced it will open a location in North Wales, Penn., spanning 20,500 square feet in the Montgomery Square Shopping Center. Ross is also set to open a store in Yakima, Wash., consuming 23,000 square feet of space in the Gateway Center Shopping Center. Both stores will debut on Oct. 7.
Aug. 21, 2023: Ariat International is opening an Ariat Work retail store in Northridge, Calif., on Aug. 24. The store is intended to cater to the area’s significant number of construction workers, landscapers and other skilled workers. Located at 9044 Corbin Ave., the shop will stock Ariat’s collection of workwear products, which aim to deliver comfort, stability, durability and protection in the field.
Aug. 10, 2023: Canadian footwear brand La Canadienne has opened its newest in-mall store in Carrefour Laval in Quebec. The grand opening marks the debut of a unique store concept that encompasses elements of existing store layout and design, with an emphasis on showcasing the brand’s trademarked City Dry footwear collection. With the expansion into Carrefour Laval, the largest enclosed shopping center in the Montreal area, the La Canadienne team is “thrilled” to begin to connect with local consumers in this new Quebec retail location. “Our brand is over 35 years young, but there is so much more opportunity to tell our story,” Nicholas Niro, CEO of La Canadienne, said in a statement. “Aside from marketing, physical retail is a key part of building brand awareness as it allows us to showcase our complete lifestyle collection and highlight our City Dry technology. With that said, we continue to be selective with our retail expansion and consider high visibility locations. Carrefour Laval is one of those and we look forward to seeing our existing and meeting new customers in this center.” –
Aug. 7, 2023: Brioni has opened its first store in Texas. Located at 30 Highland Park Village, the boutique offers ready-to-wear and accessories collections as well as the exclusive Bespoke service. The new shop echoes the store concept of Brioni locations worldwide: local inspirations such as the colour palette are reflected in the choice of MITA designs (Manifattura Italiana Tappeti Artistici ) which feature bold midcentury motifs. The carpet at the entrance is titled Il carretto delle stoffe (‘Fabrics cart’) as a reference to sartorial craftmanship. A central wall tapestry, titled Il carretto della frutta (‘Fruit cart’), also an original MITA design, divides the space into various atmospheres for the clients to explore. The store is further completed with vintage 20th century Italian design pieces, for a truly unique experience. The Dallas boutique is conceived as a sartorial Atelier as well as a home away from home, where clients can enjoy dedicated one to one service and superior tailoring expertise in a warm Italian atmosphere.
Aug. 7, 2023: REI Co-op is expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint in spring 2024 with a store in Beaverton, Ore. The store, located at 2780 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., will consume 39,512 square feet of real estate in the Walker Center. Inside the store, there will be a full-service bike shop, a ski and snowboard shop, and consumers can use REI’s curbside pickup feature, as well as buy online-pick up in store. REI confirmed in a statement that it has more than 303,000 members of the co-op in the market, and there are 936,000 members total in Oregon.
Aug. 4, 2023: Simkhai has opened its first Texas store in Dallas’ buzzing shopping destination, Highland Park Village. It is the first permanent space for the American ready-to-wear brand in Texas. Following the success of the brand’s yearlong pop up at Market Highland Park, Simkhai has established a presence with the local community, making for a timely store opening for the standalone space. Simkhai will carry its newest collections including pre-fall and fall as well as shoes and handbags. The 700 square-foot store was designed with Atra Form Interior Design Studio, and features an open floor plan with clean, natural shapes and textures that incorporate Simkhai’s new visual retail language. In line with the brand’s retail rollout plans for 2023, Simkhai will open a store in Beverly Hills later this year with many more stores on calendar for 2024 to add to its portfolio of retail in Los Angeles, SoHo, and Southampton.
Aug. 1, 2023: Loewe has opened a new store in East Hampton, N.Y. The permanent store, located at 20 Main Street, draws on creative director Jonathan Anderson’s Casa Loewe store concept where art, craft and fashion intertwine. The 3,000-square-foot boutique features the full range of women’s ready-to-wear, bags, small leather goods, shoes, jewelry, home scents and sunglasses. Men’s will be added in November. The store highlights signature Loewe design details while introducing new, reusable elements. Taking inspiration from its breezy coastal surroundings, the East Hampton store melds the relaxed and the refined. Hand-glazed Spanish tiles grace the interior, their warmth and texture offset by cool expanses of concrete. Created with sustainability in mind, the store also features a modular system from Molo Design – intricate 100 percent recyclable paper soft blocks that can be stretched, stacked, and arranged to create mesmerizing displays and shelving surfaces. Further flashes of color come from bespoke rugs, handwoven from natural fibers by Colombian women artisans, and a series of angular Utrecht armchairs designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and upholstered in fresh fabrics. Loewe’s black iron martini tables and ceramic podiums complete the atmosphere.
July 25, 2023: Academy Sports + Outdoors is scheduled to open its first location in Fredericksburg, Va., in the fall. The store, which will be Academy’s second in Virginia, will span 77,000 square feet. The store will offer several options to make the shopping experience convenient, such as buy online pick-up in store service and free shipping on most online orders over $25. Also, Academy explained there will be a number of in-store services offered, including free assembly on grills and bikes, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling and the ability to purchase hunting and fishing licenses. The store will carry a variety of sports and outdoor products, including an array of athletic and casual shoes, clothing and sports and outdoors equipment. The brand mix includes Nike, Adidas, The North Face, Under Armour, Columbia and more. It will also stock its private label brands Magellan Outdoors, Freely, R.O.W., BCG, H2OX, Mosaic, O’Rageous and Redfield. The retailer said in s statement that it is expected to bring 60 new jobs to the community. This is part of Academy’s ongoing expansion plans, which includes a target of 13-15 stores this year, and 120-140 by the end of 2027.
July 19, 2023: The House of LR&C co-founder and Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson celebrated the opening of his fashion company’s newest physical retail location at Denver International Airport on Tuesday, July 18, marking the brand’s first-ever airport retail store in an exclusive travel retail partnership with Hudson, a Dufry AG company. Russell celebrated the official opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony alongside The House of LR&C’s co-CEO, Janelle Shiplett, and Denver Airport CEO, Phil Washington, as well as Hudson executives. Guests were able to shop the store’s assortment of menswear from the company’s Good Man Brand. The shop was designed with the goal of making shopping for sustainable fashion easier, more experiential, and better for the planet and its people all while offering on-the-move customers their favorite elevated essentials for travel and beyond. The store’s assortment features some of the brand’s best-selling shirts, pants, joggers, and footwear collection including Italian-made leather sneakers.
July 18, 2023: Academy Sports and Outdoors said on Tuesday that it will open two locations in Central Texas this fall in the cities of Brenham and Kyle. The Brenham store will stand at over 63,000 square feet, and the Kyle store will be approximately 56,000 square feet. Both stores will offer athletic and casual shoes, sports and outdoors equipment, and clothing from brands like Nike, Adidas, The North Face, Under Armour, Columbia, Yeti, Carhartt, Burlebo, Chubbies, Traeger and more. “As a homegrown Texas brand, we are thrilled to offer our loyal customers two new and convenient locations in the Brenham and Kyle communities,” Sam Johnson, Academy Sports + Outdoors’ EVP of retail operations, said in a statement. “Academy is focused on providing the best service, experience, and value to help customers in Central Texas pursue the activities that they love and make new memories, on any budget.” Academy is on track to open 13 to 15 stores this year, with the goal of opening a total of 120 to 140 new stores by the end of 2027.
July 17, 2023: It was a honky-tonk grand opening for Freebird Stores in Downtown Music City to celebrate its nationwide retail footprint expansion. Located at 150 2nd Avenue in Nasville, this new store marks the retailer’s 19th location across the US, taking over the old B.B. King’s venue. As the first-ever Freebird Honky-Tonk-style boot store, the location features local bands and established artists seven days a week. A Denver staple since 2009, the leather company offers a wide array of rustic-inspired styles, including men’s and women’s boots, baby shoes, hats, accessories, and bags. To celebrate the opening, the footwear company hosted a unique fashion and music VIP experience for local industry professionals, artists, fashion stylists, and influencers in June. The special musical guest for the evening was rising country singer-songwriter Laci Kaye Booth. The grand opening party also featured free boot giveaways every 15 minutes, live music on the Freebird stage, signature cocktails served in the full bar, and a grand prize winner of Freebird boots for a year.
July 17, 2023: With the opening of the 2023 summer season, Palm Angels has landed with a free-standing store on the Greek island of Mykonos. Located in the center of the chora, at 6 Enoplon Dinameon, Palm Angels’ newest store opened in partnership with Simple Caracters Group. The new boutique has an “alley-like” structure, with two deep rooms in sequence, a feature due to the particular architecture of the place. Two large windows and the wide glass door overlooking the street give access to natural light, and the store’s particular perspective, a corner with defined volumes and subtle decoration, immediately draws the eye. The white plaster, one of the visual references of Greece, a symbol of the Mediterranean Sea, of integrity and light, has been kept in the exterior and interior, so that the store blends harmoniously into its context, leaving the interior free to express the brand’s identity. In addition to all Palm Angels collections, the store will feature a limited-edition capsule dedicated to the island and available only in Mykonos.
July 13, 2023: Diesel has opened a new store in Paris. Located at 223 Rue Saint-Honoré, the new store represents the brand’s fashion and design attitude under the creative direction of Glenn Martens. The store’s decorative anchor is inspired by billboards celebrating vintage Diesel advertisements, like those that ran along fabled American highways like Route 66. To bring the raw spirit of the road inside, the walls are covered in riveted raw steel panels, as if billboards had been broken down, repurposed and reversed. The 1DR bags and capsules are displayed an immersive, Instagrammable room, where peel-off billboard walls give a multilayered aura of nostalgia and newness. The Red Room, a bold monochromatic chamber surrounded by lacquered walls in all-over Diesel red, is devoted to the denim collection. A red staircase and elevator bank lead upstairs, where the mood changes. Textural popcorn stucco walls and exposed ceilings with suspended light boxes and windows with horizontal blinds evoke a minimalistic studio space for men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, shoes and bags.
July 10, 2023: Neiman Marcus has opened Schiaparelli‘s first West Coast location inside the retailer’s Beverly Hills store. The permanent boutique is a continuation of Neiman Marcus Group’s U.S. exclusive, which includes dedicated presence at Neiman Marcus’ flagship in downtown Dallas and Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. The new boutique is designed by Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry in collaboration with architect Daniel Romualdez. The second-floor shop embodies the Schiaparelli aesthetic with surrealist and whimsical details. Evoking the iconic Place Vendôme atelier, it takes inspiration from the brand’s rich creative heritage with references to Jean Michel Frank, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali and other culturally defining Schiaparelli collaborators. The boutique is outfitted with a wide selection of ready-to-wear, evening wear, handbags, leather goods, jewelry, and accessories. “Our presence in Los Angeles has really exploded thanks to the amazing moments we’ve had working hand in hand with L.A. based celebrities and stylists,” Roseberry said in a statement. “I am thrilled that Schiaparelli’s ready-to-wear will now be available to more people who love the brand and want to be a part of what we are building here.”
July 6, 2023: John Elliott has opened his first international flagship. Located at 83 Yorkville Ave in Toronto, the store serves as the brand’s sixth physical shop. Spanning 2,407 square-feet of retail space, this location extends the design language architect Stephan Wiemer developed for the brand’s Melrose Ave, Miami, SoHo, Madison Ave, and Aspen locations, refining the use of minimalist and utilitarian construction for a sophisticated presentation of men’s and women’s collections. Product represents the young luxury brand’s full range, including exquisite artisanal leather pieces, Japanese denim, premium Los Angeles-made sportswear, and an extensive Italian-produced footwear collection. An assortment of fine jewelry, developed in collaboration with cult Japanese brand M.A.R.S, remains present.
July 3, 2023: Zegna has opened a new temporary store in East Hampton, N.Y. Located at 50 Newtown Lane, the 85 square-meter (915 square-foot) store “perfectly epitomizes” the resetting of Zegna’s identity under the artistic direction of Alessandro Sartori, the Italian luxury label said in a statement on Monday. The store’s ‘marine resort’ concept interprets the aesthetic of Zegna’s flagships with sand-colored resin floors that blend into white walls — creating a light ambiance. The store’s interior is complemented with Mariantonia Urru carpets, which are unique to this location and handcrafted exclusively for Zegna on the Italian island of Sardinia. The Newtown Lane Zegna store will showcase the brand’s latest menswear collections, including luxury leisurewear staples such as the Triple Stitch shoe and overshirt.
July 3, 2023: Isabel Marant opened its first store in the Hamptons late last month. Located at 66 Newton Lane, in East Hampton, N.Y., the 84 square-meter (904 square-foot) space offers a unique design aesthetic – drawing inspiration from the 1970s French experimental movement. The store concept has been developed by Marant’s studio in close interaction with a group of talented young European designers and artisans. All sharing the same passion for contrasts, tensions and subtle imperfection creating a specific approach of an intimate luxury. The store showcases a variety of furniture pieces, including jewelry and sunglasses display and wooden podiums designed by Rotterdam designer Jonas Lutz, concrete and ceramic planters by Parisian artist Kalou Dubus as well as ceramic glazed podiums developed by the Spanish studio Apparatu. The designer, pursuing her international expansion, has now 80 stores across the globe. This new location houses the main line for women and a selection of Isabel Marant Etoile collection, and accessories.
June 30, 2023: Fendi has opened its latest boutique – this time in Puerto Banus in Spain. Located in the city’s renowned fashion district of Costa del Sol, the 403 square-meter (4,337 square-foot) shop is organized into three levels, where men’s and women’s full collections can be admired in a unique atmosphere. To celebrate the opening of the Puerto Banus boutique and the launch of the Astrology Summer capsule 2023 collection, Fendi has taken over the Puente Romano Resort, an Andalusian village-style resort where Fendi personalized the Chiringuito area and opened a pop-up store nearby presenting the key items of the new collection together with the main icons of the brand.
June 30, 2023: Ross Dress for Less, which has recently announced several store openings, has stated it will soon expand in Michigan. On July 15, the retailer will open a store in Grandville in the Grandville Marketplace Shopping Center. The store will consume 20,000 square feet of real estate at the corner of Rivertown Parkway and Canal Avenue Southwest. The company said in a statement that Ross Dress for Less, together with its DD’s Discounts banner, operate more than 2,000 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
June 29, 2023: Burberry has reopened its recently renovated Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City. Located at 693 Fifth Ave., the multilevel store features the brand’s creative retail evolution under creative director Daniel Lee, and offers a selection of womenswear, menswear, shoes and accessories with a stronger focus on leather goods. Presenting a stripped-back aesthetic designed to spotlight key Burberry products, the combination of concrete floors and smooth countertops is complemented by bespoke wooden sculptures created by local artist Casey McCafferty. These sculptures punctuate the space, serving as a visual representation of the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship. Store windows will showcase stacks of summer-inspired Burberry inflatable rings, each crafted in the brand’s new pear colorway, a seasonal take on its Burberry Check.
June 29, 2023: REI Co-op will expand its brick-and-mortar footprint in spring 2025 with a 22,000-sq.-ft. store in Durango, Colo. The new door, a newly constructed building that sits at the corner of Turner Drive and U.S. Highway 550, will offer apparel, gear and expertise for several activities including cycling, running, hiking, paddling, snowsports and more. Also, the store will feature a full-service bike, ski and snowboard shop, and will offer consumers its buy online-pick up in store option and curbside pickup. In terms of membership, REI confirmed via statement that it has roughly 9,000 members specifically in Durango and 2.2 million members in Colorado.
June 27, 2023: Next month, Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Mableton, Ga. The store, which consumes 25,500 square feet of retail space in The Village at Mableton Shopping Center, will open on July 15. Ross Dress for Less, combined with its DD’s Discounts banner, confirmed in a statement that it operates more than 2,000 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
June 26, 2023: Texas-native clothing brand and premium athletic and lifestyle footwear retailer Centre has opened a new store in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas. This is the third brick-and-mortar location for Centre in the DFW metroplex and largest to date, occupying over 4,000 square feet of retail and hybrid space across two levels at 250 North Bishop Ave. “The authenticity of this neighborhood is truly admirable,” expressed co-owner Nick Sunderman in a statement. “Bishop Arts is a seamless fit for Centre, and we’re thrilled to call it home.” In addition to the premium brands that Centre enthusiasts love, the new location also features exclusive Bishop Arts merchandise from Centre’s in-house label. High-end labels new to Centre are highlighted such as Les Tien and Cotton Citizen. Moreover, there are plans to introduce additional brands that extend beyond sportswear. Established in 2007 in Dallas, Centre expanded in 2019 with a second location in Fort Worth.
June 26, 2023: Morjas has opened its very first physical store. Located in the heart of Stockholm, Casa Morjas is a collaboration between founder and creative director, Henrik Berg, and architect Victor Ingmo Magnergård. Berg and Magnergård share Spanish-Swedish heritage, which proved crucial in realizing their vision for the new store. Inside the 92 square-meter store, visitors will enter a space defined by rich colors and contrasting elemental textures – marble, travertine, and wood. The first third of the store is the Living Room, featuring arched wall cut-outs and custom-designed furniture, which create an inviting and sophisticated atmosphere to shop. The next room is the Gallery, which places the product on a pedestal like a piece of art. The room’s centerpiece is a large custom red marble table, complementing the dark wood-paneled walls. And in the back is Café Morjas, a space designed to instill a sense of community and order some of the city’s best coffee and pan con tomate. “Casa Morjas is the physical reflection of our Spanish-Swedish roots. It’s a place where contrasts come to life and represent who we are,” Berg said in a statement. “Influences from the Mediterranean meet sharp and almost futuristic elements which hint to the Scandinavian aesthetic.”
June 26, 2023: Ross Dress for Less is expanding in Michigan. Its new Benton Harbor store, which consumes 20,000 square feet of retail space, will open on July 15. The store is located in the Fairplain Plaza Shopping Center. Ross Dress for Less, along with its DD’s Discounts banner, have more than 2,000 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
June 21, 2023: Academy Sports and Outdoors is expanding in the Greater Indianapolis area with two stores that will debut in the fall. The stores will be located in Westfield-Carmel, which spans 75,000 square feet, and an Avon door that consumes 60,000 square feet of retail space. Academy said in a statement that it plans to open 13 to 15 stores this year, bringing its total to 120 to 140 by the end of 2027. The stores will offer options for consumers to make the shopping experience more convenient, such as buy-online pick up in-store and free shipping on most online orders more than $25. The two locations, according to Academy Sports and Outdoors, are expected to bring a combined 120 new jobs to the communities. What’s more, the retailer has signed a multiyear deal to serve as a partner of the Indianapolis Colts, and with the partnership, the two will collaborate on fun community events, social media, digital content and more “to enhance both the fan and customer experience.”
June 21, 2023: Next month, Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Coralville, Iowa. The 22,000 sq.-ft. location., which sits in the Coral North Shopping Center, will debut on July 15. Ross Dress for Less and DD’s Discounts, which is a division of Ross Stores, have more than 2,000 off-price apparel and home fashion stores across 40 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
June 21, 2023: DD’s Discounts is expanding in Phoenix. The new store for the retailer, which is a division of Ross Stores, will open on June 24. The store spans 19,000 square feet and is located in the El Monte Plaza Shopping Center, which is at the southeast corner of North 19th Avenue and West Dunlap Avenue.
May 26, 2023: After 30 years in its original SoHo space, Steve Madden has relocate