Mall of America announced that Columbia Sportswear Company plans to open a Columbia-branded store later this year. The 16,000-square-foot store will feature Columbia apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, along with its Sorel brand winter footwear. Columbia Sportswear currently operates one Columbia store in Portland, Oregon, and has announced plans to open stores in Seattle and Chicago.


 


“We are very excited to welcome Columbia Sportswear to Mall of America,” said Maureen Bausch, executive vice president, Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. “Our goal has always been to create the finest shopping experience possible for our guests. For the past 16 years we have worked hard to bring top brands and retailers to MOA. Columbia Sportswear not only brings a well respected brand but it also creates a new shopping experience. We expect Columbia's strong reputation as an innovator for outdoor enthusiasts to make this store a destination for our more than 40 million annual visitors.”


 


“Columbia Sportswear is thrilled about the prospect of showcasing the breadth and depth of our authentic, active, outdoor products in this premier retail space at Mall of America,” said Tim Boyle, president and chief executive officer, Columbia Sportswear Company. “Mall of America not only offers our new branded store the chance to tap into a wealth of shopping experiences and millions of visitors each year, but its location in an outdoors-oriented region like Minnesota plays directly to Columbia's strengths in providing consumers with a range of apparel and footwear that allows them to enjoy the outdoors longer and more comfortably, whatever the season and whatever the weather.”