Footwear

Chicago — Athletic shoe and apparel retailer ASICS has signed a 5,254-sq.-ft. lease in Chicago’s Bucktown area. According to RKF, who represented the landlord, 1630 Damen LLC c/o Jenel Management Corporation in negotiations for the long-term lease, this will be Asics’ first store in the Midwest and third in the United States when it opens early next year.  

Blatteis & Schnur represented Windsor Financial Group, an independent licensee of AsicsAmerica in negotiations.

New York – The Jones Group Inc’s net income rose a better-than-expected 67% in the third quarter, increasing to $28.3 million from $17.8 million.

However, revenues in the quarter ended Oct. 5 fell about 1%, to $1.02 billion from $1.03 billion.

New York -- Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. has implemented Gerber Technology’s YuniquePLM software for its men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel and footwear lines. The vertical retailer is using the product lifecycle management (PLM) solution to ensure its many teams are able to collaborate and communicate optimally to increase speed and efficiency of getting products to market.

Lululemon has appointed Tara Poseley as the company’s chief product officer. In this role, Poseley will oversee the company’s global merchandising and design strategy, working hand in hand with its design team including Deanne Schweitzer, SVP and head of women’s design, and Felix Del Toro, SVP and head of men’s design.

Poseley, who will be reporting to CEO Christine Day, will be responsible for merchandising, inventory, allocation and strategic planning.

The Jones Group had better-than-expected third-quarter results for fiscal 2013, as net income soared 67% to $28.3 million from $17.8 million. However, revenues in the quarter ended Oct. 5 fell about 1%, to $1.02 billion from $1.03 billion.

Regional department store retailer Von Maur isn’t so regional anymore following the opening of its first store in New York.

Columbus, Ohio – Lane Bryant opens three new locations and a relocated store on Oct. 25. The stores are all located at shopping centers.
    
The new stores are located at Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville, Pa., Rushmore Shopping Center in Rapid City, S.D., and Commons at Magnolia in Florence, S.C. Lane Bryant also opens a relocated store outside of The Promenade at Millcreek Mall in Erie, Penn. on Oct. 25.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue is set to unveil a newly renovated men’s store at its Boca Raton, Fla., location in the Town Center at Boca Raton on Nov. 20.

The renovations focus on several enhancements, including six new dedicated vendor shops from Corneliani, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Armani Collezioni, Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren Black Label, plus a denim shop and a new space for the exclusive Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a new store at Towne Center in Batavia, N.Y., on Nov. 1.

The Batavia location will be the retailer's 37th store in the state of New York and its 548th nationwide.
 

Houston – After rejecting a $2.3 billion buyout offer from Jos. A. Bank, Men’s Wearhouse reportedly is considering purchasing men’s shoemaker Allen Edmonds Corp., according to reports by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others. The high-end footwear is owned by private equity firm Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison, which bought it seven years ago.

It wasn’t clear how — or if — a deal for Allen Edmonds would impact on Jos. A. Bank’s offer.