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MINNEAPOLIS-Golf Galaxy, a specialty superstore chain, plans to open 12 to 15 new stores during its 2005 fiscal year beginning in March. The company also says it is in the process of achieving its goal of opening 10 new stores in its 2004 fiscal year, which it will end with 34 stores averaging 17,000 sf each.

Golf Galaxy has already opened five new stores this year and will open four more in November and December--one each in Louisville, KY; Nashville; Buffalo, NY and Gurnee, IL. Golf Galaxy has seen its earnings and comparable store sales increase, which led to its decision to "implement our most aggressive growth plan ever this past year," says Randy Zanatta, president and chief executive officer of Golf Galaxy.

The 10th store to open in fiscal 2004 will be in February 2005 in San Antonio, TX. The store will be the first in a multi-store plan for Texas. The chain plans to open up to six stores opening in Texas in the early part of 2005, the last region in the US in which the chain had not had a presence, Zanatta says.