Disney Stores To Double

SECAUCUS, NJ-Children’s Place Stores executives obviously feel that Disney Stores, which the company acquired last year, has potential. The company plans to double the 306-store chain eventually, starting with 10 store openings this year.

Company executives plan to redevelop 35 of the Disney stores; six of the openings will be outlet units, the first being at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, in Central Valley, NY, at the end of the month. That store will be the first outlet unit in the entire chain. Children’s Place agreed to buy the chain from Walt Disney Co. in October, and will start paying the entertainment giant licensing royalties in two years.

Children’s Place is plans swift growth in its flagship chain, which currently has 750 stores. Company executives plan to open 60 of those this year and said there is potential for more than 1,000. Overall, they are forecasting an 8% to 10% increase in square footage annually and will concentrate on expansion in California and Texas. This year the retailer will spend $100 million on openings, renovations and the expansion of company headquarters.