Footwear

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods is opening three new stores. The stores are located at the Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville, Ga., the Epps Bridge Center in Athens, Ga., and a remodeled store in Leawood, Kan.

New York – Private equity firm KKR & Co. LP has reportedly dropped out of the auction for Jones Group Inc. According to Reuters, KKR, in partnership with private equity group Sycamore Partners LLP, was the only entity trying to buy the entire Jones Group company.

Bidding continues on parts of Jones Group and the company is soliciting new bids. It is not clear whether Sycamore Group will continue to bid on part or all of Jones Group and KKR, Sycamore Group and Jones Group did not comment in the article.

Sales at Indianapolis-based athletic footwear and apparel retailer Finish Line grew 13.3% to $436 million and earnings per share increase 10.2% to 54 cents, nine cents better than analysts forecast for the period ended August 31.

Company chairman and CEO Glenn Lyon characterized the performance as solid, and credited a 0.9% comp increase and expense control for profit growth.

New York -- British lifestyle brand Holland & Holland is launching its U.S. e-commerce site today. This interactive e-commerce site will allow Holland & Holland clothing, fashion accessories, gifts and shooting accoutrement to be available for purchase for the first time nationwide.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. will open new stores in Baltimore and in Lafayette, La. on Oct. 3.

The Baltimore store will be located at 3501 Boston Street and the Lafayette store will be located at 609 Settlers Trace Blvd. Customers will be able to participate in the DSW Rewards loyalty program and also participate in the DSW Shoe Lover community on Facebook to receive exclusive offers and giveaways.

Boston – A new headquarters complex athletic shoe manufacturer New Balance is constructing in the Brighton section of Boston will reportedly include 65,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

According to the Boston Business Journal, ground has been broken on the $500 million, 1.45 million-sq.-ft. site. In addition to New Balance corporate headquarters and retail space, the site will also include an athletic complex, NHL-regulation hockey arena, a hotel, office space, 1,750 parking spaces and its own commuter rail stop.

Denton, Texas — Denim specialty retailer Buckle plans to open a store at Golden Triangle Mall on Oct.17. Golden Triangle, Denton’s only mall, features Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Sears, Barnes & Noble and DSW Show Warehouse as anchors.

Cencor Realty Services manages the mall, and The Weitzman Group www.weitzmangroup.com is the exclusive leasing agent for the property.

Columbia Sportswear Company, a leading manufacturer of active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, has appointed Franco Fogliato as SVP of Europe, reporting directly to president and CEO Tim Boyle, effective Nov. 4.

Fogliato will be responsible for establishing and executing sales, distribution and marketing strategies for the company’s Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear and Sorel brands, sold through more than 5,000 wholesale customers across Europe.

Columbus, Ohio — Designer Show Warehouse will open a new store in Eatontown, N.J. on Sept. 26.

The company currently operates 383 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. DSW also supplies footwear to 355 leased locations in the U.S.

Glendale, Calif. -- Nordstrom has unveiled its new, relocated store at Americana at Brand, the Caruso-owned luxury shopping center in Glendale, Calif.

Seattle-based Nordstrom was formerly located at nearby Glendale Galleria, but closed that store to reopen in 135,000 sq. ft. at Americana at Brand, featuring a refreshed interior design over three levels, farm-to-table restaurant Bar Verde, updated beauty experience, and an expanded selection of designer fashion brands including the first TopShop and TopMan in-store boutiques in Los Angeles.