More Shoes to Shop

Bakers Footwear Group, a leading specialty retailer of moderately priced fashion footwear for young women, plans to open eight new stores by the end of the fourth quarter, ending January 1, 2005.

The eight stores, which will average 2170 square feet, will be located in Schaumburg, Ill.; Arcadia, Calif.; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Saugus, Mass.; Salem, N.H.; Concord, Calif.; Towson, Md.; and Phoenix.

In addition, the company announced it is scheduled to open another new store in Braintree, Mass., by mid-December. Including the eight new stores opened in the third quarter, Bakers plans to have a total of 219 stores by the end of fiscal 2004.

“Our new store format continues to perform above expectations and we are encouraged by improving business conditions during the holiday selling season,” said Peter Edison, chairman and ceo, Bakers Footwear Group. “Our plan for strong long-term growth includes opening 25 to 30 new stores in fiscal 2005 and leveraging our existing infrastructure to maximize financial results. We are confident our new store locations will expand our loyal customer base and strengthen our reputation as a leader in fashion footwear.”

Baker Footwear operates more than 200 stores nationwide under two formats, Bakers and Wild Pair. The company’s merchandise includes private label and national brand dress, casual and sport shoes, boots, sandals and accessories for women.