A Wall Street analyst's report released this week suggest that Nike, Inc. may soon announce the company’s intent to open their own mall-based specialty stores. The report from Susquehanna Financial Group said that they had been able to verify, primarily through their “shopping center industry contacts,” that Nike is exploring the option to open a small number of mall-based specialty stores during calendar year 2007.

SIG said they had been advised that Nike is “actively looking” at 3,500 to 4,000 square foot boxes in prominent center court locations in “A” malls only. The report also said that the company is also looking at sites in non-anchor malls, similar to the centers that house a number of the company’s “Goddess” women’s retail units.

Susquehanna said the announcement of the new stores is likely to take place at Nike’s February 6 analyst meeting.