Columbia Sportswear Company has signed a lease with Grosvenor for a new Columbia branded store at 830 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
Columbia's plan to open a store along the Magnificent Mile next year is part of the company's strategy to elevate the retail presentation of its complementary outdoor brands and drive consumer demand for its broad assortment of performance outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment.
The company previously unveiled plans to enter the Seattle retail market later this year and plans to build a network of Columbia-branded stores in key metropolitan markets over the next several years.
“With a highly visible location just across the street from Chicago's famed Water Tower Place, Columbia is sure to draw large crowds of tourists and locals alike to its newest branded store,” said said Tom Ohlson, Senior Vice President, Grosvenor.
Columbia Sportswear's Chicago store is slated to open in late-spring of 2009. Columbia branded stores will feature Columbia apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, along with its Sorel(r) brand winter footwear.
The company currently operates one Columbia store and an adjacent Mountain Hardwear store in Portland, Oregon. The company's planned network of branded stores will enable consumers to experience Columbia's innovative outdoor products merchandised under one roof in greater breadth and depth than is possible at any of the company's wholesale customers' stores.
