Lane Bryant Looks for Locations

Charming Shoppes, Inc. trades as Lane Bryant at 900 locations nationwide.  The stores, offering plus-size apparel for women, occupy spaces of 4,500 sq.ft. to 7,500 sq.ft. in lifestyle, power, specialty and strip centers.  Plans call for 90 openings nationwide during the coming 18 months.  Preferred cotenants include Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, Target and T.J. Maxx.  Preferred demographics include a trade-area population of 150,000 earning $40,000 to $65,000 as the average household income.

Annie Sez Looks for Locations in NJ and NY

Annie Sez operates 47 locations throughout CT, FL, NJ, NY and Chicago, IL.  The women’s apparel shops occupy spaces 10,000 sq.ft. to 12,000 sq.ft. in freestanding locations and power, specialty and strip centers in addition to urban/downtown areas.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout NJ and NY during the coming 18 months

Velocity Sports Performance Looks for Locations

Units open: 30
Areas of operation: AL, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MA, MD, NC, NJ, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA
Plans: 50 in 2004; 50 in 2005; 50 in 2006
Areas targeted: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, MA, MD, MO, MI, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OK, PA, TX, SC, VA, WA, WI, Canada
Preferred store size: 10,000 – 15,000 sq. ft.
Preferred locations: community strip center, freestanding, neighborhood strip center

Founded just five years ago, Velocity Sports Performance, LLC has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the world of physical fitness. Now boasting a total of 30 locations, the unique chain looks to more than quintuple that roster by year-end 2006, and within three to five years, promises to be a worldwide brand.

More than a gym, Velocity Sports calls itself a training center, whose mission is to “become the brand of choice among athletes of all ages who seek to maximize their athletic potential.” The centers offer programs specifically designed for all age groups, genders and physical strength levels, from toddlers (ages three to six) to recreational athletes to professional and occupational athletes (such as military personnel and firefighters) and more.

Each center is between 10,000 and 15,000 sq. ft., and is climate controlled for maximum comfort. Staffed with degreed coaches (in exercise physiology or related fields), locations can train athletes in speed, strength, flexibility, muscle regeneration and much more. Essentially, the target audience is all amateur and professional athletes looking to better themselves.

In addition to staffing each location with professionals, the company has staffed the halls of its corporate office with seasoned industry veterans and professionals from both business and physical fitness. Velocity was co-founded by David Walmsley, whose history includes stints at A & E television network and American Express, and Richard Kissane, a veteran of OneSource, AlphaGraphics and Wendy’s. Coach Loren Seagrave (a consultant to many NFL teams) and Rich Gray (former strength and wrestling coach for the Atlanta-based Westminster Schools) round out Velocity’s management team.

As of the end of July 2004, the chain operates 30 locations in 20 states, with plans to open 50 locations per year over the next three years. Velocity looks for locations in community and neighborhood strip centers, and freestanding buildings. Population requirements include 200,000 people in a five-mile radius; household income requirements include a minimum of $50,000.

Look for the chain to expand into Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. Velocity also opens its first Canadian location in September.

Destination Looks for Sites

Color, Inc. trades as Destination at 25 locations nationwide.  The stores, offering regionally themed apparel and gifts, occupy spaces of 500 sq.ft. to 1,500 sq.ft. in specialty and tourist centers.  Plans call for six openings nationwide during the coming 18 months.  Typical leases run 10 years.  A vanilla shell and specific improvements are required.  Major competitors include Crazy Shirts.

Abercombie & Fitch, Hollister, abercrombie, Ruehl and Gilly Hicks Sydney Look for Locations

Currently Open and Operating:

Abercombie & Fitch (A&F) – 355 locations

abercrombie – 201 locations

Hollister – 447 locations

Ruehl – 22 locations

Gilly Hicks Sydney – 3 locations

Plans call for opening an additional 67 Hollisters, 17 abercrombies, 4 A&F, 6 Ruehls and 16 Gilly Hicks.

Kona Grill Looks for Locations

Kona Grill
Scottsdale, AZ

Units open: 17
Areas of Operation: AZ, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, MI, MO, NE, NV, TX
Areas of Expansion: AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, MD, MN, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, RI, TX, VA, WA
Expansion Plans: 2008: 6; 2009: 7; 2010: 8; 2011: 9
Preferred store size: 6,500 – 7,000 sq. ft.
Preferred locations: Downtown/central business district, enclosed regional mall, enclosed super regional mall, freestanding, mixed use center, pad site/outparcel

One look at the menu at Kona Grill and images of lush vegetation, volcanoes and grass skirts come to mind, but surprisingly the restaurant chain is based in Scottsdale, Arizona – not Hawaii. Unique offerings such as macadamia nut chicken, sweet Maui onion rings, sushi and Hawaiian pizza keep customers coming back for more at this one-of-a-kind, Asian-inspired American restaurant. The atmosphere is almost as enticing as the menu, with each restaurant housing a 2,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.

Kona Grill currently operates 17 restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas, mostly in metropolitan areas. The company prefers to locate restaurants within three miles of a population of 100,000.

The company hopes to add six restaurants in 2008, seven in 2009, eight in 2010 and 9 in 2011. Kona Grill will consider adding restaurants to many states it currently operates in, as well as California, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington; states in which it has not yet entered.

The company prefers to locate in downtown areas, enclosed regional and super-regional malls, freestanding sites, mixed-use centers and pad sites. A minimum frontage of 80 feet is required. Square footage of Kona Grill restaurants is usually between 6,500 and 7,000 square feet.

Lester’s Looks for Sites

Lester’s operates nine locations throughout NJ and NY.  The apparel shops occupy spaces of 1,000 sq.ft. to 2,000 sq.ft. in malls, strip centers and downtown areas.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months.

South Moon Looks for Sites

South Moon Under operates 11 locations throughout DE, MD, PA and VA.  The stores, offering men and women’s apparel, swimwear, accessories, shoes, jewelry and gifts, occupy spaces of 4,500 sq.ft. in freestanding locations, malls and strip centers.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months.  Typical leases run 10 years with two, five-year options.  A vanilla shell is required.  Preferred demographics include a population of 10,000 within one mile earning $100,000 as the average household income. 

The Limited Too and Justice Looks for Locations

Tween Brands, Inc. trades as The Limited Too and Justice at 850 locations nationwide.  The Limited Too offers apparel, swimwear and footwear for girls ages seven to 14 and Justice carries value-priced sportswear and accessories for girls ages seven to 14.  The stores occupy spaces of 4,100 sq.ft. in community malls and outlet centers.  Growth opportunities are sought nationwide during the coming 18 months.

RCC Western Stores Looks for Locations

RCC Western Stores, Inc. trades as RCC Western Store at 27 locations throughout FL, IA, IL, IN, MN, NC, ND, SD, TN and WI.  The stores offer western style apparel, boots and hats and occupy spaces of 4,000 sq.ft. for mall locations and 7,500 sq.ft. to 15,000 sq.ft. for freestanding locations and strip centers.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets during the coming 18 months.  Typical leases run 10 years.  A vanilla shell is required.  Preferred demographics include a population of 100,000 within five miles.