Kohl's opens 30 new stores, focuses on innovation

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores has announced the grand opening of 30 new stores across 20 states. According to the company, these openings will create approximately 4,000 new jobs.

“We are pleased to be in a position to create thousands of jobs, as Kohl’s continues to focus on growing market share in a challenging economy,” said Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, president and CEO. “We continue to bring customers innovative new stores where they can enjoy quality national and exclusive brands at exceptional values.”

The 30 new stores opened Wednesday in the following states: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming. Kohl’s now operates 1,127 stores in 49 states. The company said it also invested in its current store base by adding innovative features and remodeling approximately 100 stores this year, an 18% increase from 2010.

In addition, all new stores opening this fall feature innovative store designs and new enhancements to increase comfort and convenience for shoppers, Kohl's reported. Some of these features include updated check-out stations, upgraded fitting rooms throughout the store, including fitting room lounges in misses and juniors, a customer service area relocated to the front of the store in most locations, in-store e-commerce kiosks and electronic signage located throughout the store. To further drive growth, Kohl’s said it also remains focused on the successful small store concept, which offers greater real estate flexibility and provides a platform to open up more stores faster, while still offering the same quality exclusive and national brands, value and convenience that shoppers have enjoyed for years.

In keeping with its efforts to be a greener retailer, Kohl's announced that 8 of the new stores have been built to LEED guidelines, a set of criteria which guide best practices for the design, construction and operation for high-performance green buildings.