Who's Opening & Where
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Who's Opening & Where


Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Inc. (407-333-7440) is planning to open 10 to 14 Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants this year, including five to seven company-owned and five to seven franchised locations. The company currently operates 93 restaurants located throughout approximately 30 states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico and Taiwan. The menu features steak dinners, fresh seafood, and an extensive wine list.
 

Subway Real Estate Corp. (800-888-4848) is planning to open 2,000 Subway locations this year. The company currently operates 25,206 restaurants throughout 83 countries.
 

 Charming Shoppes, Inc. (215-245-9100) is planning to open approximately 155 to 160 stores in fiscal 2007, including the opening of approximately 75 to 80 outlet stores. Charming Shoppes currently operates approximately 2,236 stores throughout 48 U.S. states. The sites include 1,025 Fashion Bug stores that sell moderately priced apparel and accessories in girls, juniors, misses and plus sizes; more than 470 Catherines Plus Size stores; and approximately 720 Lane Bryant stores. Nationwide, Charming Shoppes serves low- to middle-income women and teens who follow fashion styles. Overall, plus-size apparel accounts for more than 75% of the company’s sales.
 

Wal*Mart Stores, Inc. (479-273-4000) is planning to open between 550 to 600 Wal*Mart stores during the coming fiscal year, including 270 to 280 Wal*Mart Supercenter locations and 220 to 230 international retail outlets. The company also is moving towards opening retail banking units in its stores. Wal*Mart also is planning to open 15 to 20 Neighborhood Market locations and 30 to 40 Sam’s Club warehouse stores. The company currently operates more than 5,700 stores, including some 1,350 Wal*Mart stores, nearly 2,000 Wal*Mart Supercenter locations in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and 550 Sam’s Club stores. Nearly 75% of its stores are in the U.S., but Wal*Mart is expanding internationally; it is the top retailer in Canada and Mexico. It owns 42% of Japanese supermarket chain SEIYU. Wal-Mart also has operations in Asia, Europe and South America.
 

 Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (303-440-5220) has signed 16 leases or letters of intent for store openings for this year and next year. Plans call for 10 openings this year. Wild Oats Markets operates approximately 113 full-service stores throughout 24 states and British Columbia, Canada. Its stores provide natural, organic, and traditional grocery items, as well as environmentally-friendly household products. The stores operate under the Capers Community Market, Henry’s Farmers Markets, Sun Harvest Farms and the Wild Oats Natural Marketplace names. It also has bakeries, coffee and juice bars, and massage therapists in most stores.
 

 Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Inc. (423-424-2000) is planning to open an upscale seafood concept in Chattanooga, TN. Opening is slated for June. While showcasing a new name and a décor package, the restaurant is inspired by the company’s popular seafood restaurants, AIA Ale Works and Ragtime Tavern and Seafood Grill. The restaurant will feature a variety of new and unique menu items in addition to recipes taken directly from the company’s renowned FL locations. The 6,700 sq.ft. restaurant will feature an extensive dining room, spacious bar area, private dining/banquet room and outdoor patio. Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group operates or franchises more than 25 brewpubs that feature micro brewed beer as well as a menu of burgers, pizza, pasta and steak. Many locations are in California but also are in major U.S. metropolitan areas. Gordon Biersch also owns and operates half a dozen restaurants under different names like Big River Grille & Brewing Works and Disney’s Board Walk in tourist locations such as Nashville, TN, and Orlando, FL.
 

 Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (614-283-6500) is planning to open 64 Hollister Co. stores, 19 Abercrombie stores, 12 Abercrombie & Fitch stores and eight RUEHL stores. Abercrombie & Fitch sells men’s, women’s, and kids casual clothes and accessories. A&F has approximately 790 U.S. stores, mostly in malls, and also sells from its catalog and online. Its newest format, RUEHL, is a Greenwich Village-inspired concept for the post-collegiate set.
 

Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. (757-321-5000) is planning to open an 8,000 sq.ft. Dollar Tree store at a 24,000 sq.ft. center on Interstate Drive in Bloomington, IL. Area retail includes Wal*Mart. Dollar Tree currently operates more than 2,800 discount stores throughout 48 states, selling a changing mix of housewares, toys, seasonal items, food, health and beauty aids, gifts, and books all priced at $1. Dollar Tree Stores are located in high-traffic strip centers anchored by mass merchandisers and supermarkets, as well as in small towns. In recent years, Dollar Tree has begun opening larger stores from 10,000 sq.ft. to 15,000 sq.ft.
 

 Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. (510-594-2100) is planning to open 23 to 28 Peet’s Coffee & Tea stores in fiscal 2006. Peet’s Coffee & Tea operates approximately 90 coffee shops throughout seven states, Peet’s offers java lovers more than 30 types of coffee, including more than 20 blends. Its teas run the spectrum from India black to herbal blends. The stores also offer items such as biscotti, mugs and brewing equipment. Most of the company’s outlets are located in CA, while others can be found in CO, IL, MA, OR, TX and WA. In addition, Peet’s sells products through specialty channels such as mail order and the Internet. The company also sells its coffee wares through retail grocery stores, including Safeway and Whole Foods.
 

Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. (817-496-4414) is planning to open Tandy Leather stores in Raleigh, NC and Lubbock, TX this month. These locations are the first of 12 planned store openings this year. The Raleigh store will be located on Old Wake Forest Road, while the Lubbock store will be located on Avenue Q. Tandy Leather Factory makes and distributes leather goods and related products, such as leatherworking tools, buckles and belt supplies, leather dyes, saddle and tack hardware, do-it-yourself craft kits, suede lace, western-hat trim and fringe. The company operates 30 wholesale distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada. Its retail leathercraft division operates more than 52 retail stores and sells to leatherworking hobbyists via catalogs.
 

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (714-848-3747) is planning to open as many as 14 locations for 2007 and 2008. BJ’s Restaurants, formerly Chicago Pizza & Brewery, owns and operates approximately 40 restaurants throughout six western states, with two-thirds of the units in CA and a licensed outlet in HI, under the names BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, BJ’s Pizza & Grill and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. The casual-dining eateries offer Chicago-style pizza, salad, sandwiches, pasta and the company’s own hand-crafted beers. The company’s 10 microbreweries supply the entire chain.
 

Famous Footwear (720-344-4821) is planning to open more locations this year. The stores occupy spaces of 4,500 sq.ft. to 6,000 sq.ft. in regional malls and lifestyle centers; 6,500 sq.ft. to 8,000 sq.ft. in power and strip centers. Preferred demographics include a population of 100,000 within five miles earning $50,000 as the average household income. Typical leases run five years with three, five-year options. The company currently operates over 900 locations throughout 50 states.
 

Tractor Supply Co. (615-366-4600) is planning to open approximately 76 Tractor Supply Co. stores this year. The company currently operates 579 stores throughout 37 states and British Columbia, Canada. Tractor Supply Co. supplies tractor parts, and offers farm supplies, including its own private labels, such as fencing, animal feeds and medicines, garden products, riding mowers and work clothes. The company concentrates its stores in rural areas and near large cities to cater to full- and part-time farmers and ranchers and to contractors.
 

Bakers Footwear Group, Inc. (314-621-0699) is planning to open 30 stores and remodel 25 locations this year. The mall-based vendor of women’s shoes and accessories operates approximately 220 stores throughout 36 states, with nearly 30 stores doing business under the Wild Pair banner. Bakers Footwear sells dress, casual, and sport shoes, as well as boots, sandals, and accessories, targeting women ages 12 to 29. Private labels account for the majority of company sales.

 

Jack in the Box, Inc. (858-571-2121) is planning to open Jack In The Box restaurants this year. The company operates and franchises more than 2,050 of its flagship hamburger outlets throughout 17 states, primarily in southern and western U.S. Jack in the Box offers standard fast-food fare, such as hamburgers, fries and soft drinks, along with salads, tacos and breakfast items. More than 1,500 locations are company-owned and the rest are franchised. In addition to its mainstay burger business, Jack in the Box runs a chain of some 250 Qdoba Mexican Grill fast-casual eateries through its Qdoba Restaurants unit.