So far this year, Delia's has opened three stores, all of them in the Dallas area, including one in upscale Northpark Center. "This is consistent with our structure to cluster and fill in new markets," said Robert Bernard, the company's chief executive officer, during Delia's fourth-quarter conference call. The company has nine more leases signed so far this year.

Stores in the chain current average $325 per sf, and executives are pushing for them to reach $400 per sf. Additionally, they are shooting for low single-digit same-stores sales growth out of the units on a consistent basis.

During the most recent quarter, which ended Jan. 28, same-store sales dropped 1.8% due to a reduction in non-apparel merchandise, which is one of the retailer's strategies, executives said. Management also noted that comparable apparel sales at the chain were up 14.5%.