G.I. Joe’s plans to open a new store in Meridian, Idaho, a fast-growing city located approximately 10 miles west of Boise. The store will utilize 52,000 sq. ft. of a building located in the CenterPoint Marketplace on the corner of Ustick and N. Eagle Rd.

G.I. Joe’s President and CEO, Norm Daniels, said, “The Meridian G.I. Joe’s store heralds our expansion into the state of Idaho where we are exploring opportunities in Nampa as well. The area abounds with recreational opportunities, and as such there is a strong demand for the kinds of sports, outdoor products and services that G.I. Joe’s is famous for. The G.I. Joe’s selection makes it possible for the advanced sports and outdoor enthusiast to find the expertise and technical gear they want, yet still allows the recreational or casual outdoor consumer to find what they need to get out there.”

The new store manager will be named after the 1st of the year, but in keeping with G.I. Joe’s emphasis on experience, the position will likely be filled by one of their long-time associates. The store will employ approximately 70 employees.

G.I. Joe’s merchandises its stores into specialized sports and activities, and within those areas uses a specialty shop approach, where needed, to give the consumer the technical information or expertise they need.

The new Meridian store will feature a wide selection of gear and equipment for youth team sports including soccer, football, baseball, and basketball. Consumers will find a huge fishing, hunting and outdoor sports, including a large marine department serving boat owners. Plus the store will have one of the largest ski and board shops in the Pacific Northwest, in addition to a large Sport Services Pro Shop, which will offer ski and snowboard maintenance, tune-up and repair. The Sport Services Shop will also offer equipment rentals for consumers who wish to ‘try before they buy’ – skis and snowboards in winter – canoes, kayaks, water skis and wakeboards in summer.

Daniels concluded, “As a Northwest company, G.I. Joe’s is really looking forward to the future. Meridian will come on the heels of our new Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington store openings in early spring 2007. We continue to look for markets and locations that will fit our business model, and are in fact close to finalizing plans to open a store later in 2007 in Spokane, Washington”