Flip Flop Shops plans to franchise 18-24 shops throughout the Northeast in the next 3-5 years, including in the New York City market.

Joining the shops operating in Woodbridge, N.J.; King of Prussia, PA; and Virginia Beach (two locations) and Richmond, Va., the first of these locations will open in May 2013 in Greenwich Village at 61 E. 8th Street by local husband-wife team Dave (Size 12) & Christine (Size 8) Dequeljoe. Additional entrepreneurial teams already have plans to open shops in Milford, CT; Baltimore, Georgetown, and Bethesda, MD; Cherry Hill, N.J.; Lancaster, PA.; and Roanoke, VA within the next two years.

Proving their commitment to expand in the Northeast, company executives are hosting a Shop Day at the new location in Greenwich Village on Friday, June 21, 2013 to meet with prospective shop owners to discuss the Flip Flop Shops brand and franchise opportunity.

We are taking an almost surgical approach to our strategic growth plan to make sure were growing with the right franchisees in the right markets, and a shop in New York City has been long overdue, said Brian Curin, the President & Co-Founder (Size 10) of Flip Flop Shops. Regardless of the climate or time of the year, flip flops have tremendous market potential, and no other retailer has capitalized on this segment. We have a unique, spot-on concept that gives consumers access to the latest styles of flip flops year-round from the industrys leading brands-you cant find that anywhere else.

In 2004, Flip Flop Shops became North America’s first retail chain to focus exclusively on flip flops and sandals from such leading brands as Reef, Sanuk, OluKai, Cobian, Quiksilver, Roxy and Cushe, among others. Its mission: to provide the opportunity for anyone, in any climate, to Live…Work…Play With Their Toes Exposed with the freedom of flip flops on their feet.

Since launching the franchise opportunity in 2008, Flip Flop Shops received more than 13,000 franchise applications, generated nearly $4 million in franchise fees and nearly $20 million in system-wide sales while boasting significant same-shops sales growth. The franchise has also grown to more than 80 shops open throughout the United States, Canada, Guam and the Caribbean with more than 110 locations in the development pipeline.

Were looking to grow with shop owners that embody the Free Your Toes lifestyle and share the same flip flop passion and attitude that we do, added Darin Kraetsch, the CEO and Co-Founder (Size 10) of Flip Flop Shops.

Seeking single- and multi-unit franchisees that exude the lifestyle tenets and casual nature that are affiliated with this liberating footwear style, the company is looking to award franchises to people who have a solid business acumen coupled with a mellow, free-spirit nature and a passion for the Flip Flop Shops way of life.

With more than 190 shops already open or in the global development pipeline, growth throughout the Northeast is part of the brands well-managed global expansion strategy, which calls for 236 locations to be developed in five countries by 2014.