Tween Plans 100 Justice Stores, Big-Box Try

NANTUCKET, MA-Tween Brands is only slightly upping the numbers of its mainstay brand stores, Limited Too, while it plans to open 100 of its new off-mall, moderately-priced Justice stores this year, said Ken Stevens, president and COO of the company during a presentation at the Wachovia Securities 2007 Nantucket Equity Conference here Tuesday. The New Albany, OH-based company is also benefiting from popular accessory sales, and is considering a new, dual-gender big-box store that would open by 2009.

The Limited Too split from Limited Brands in 1999, and the first Justice stores opened in January 2004. The stores focus on sportswear, related accessories and lifestyle items for girls ages 7-14. Limited Too units are mostly in indoor malls and lifestyle centers, while Justice stores are in power centers that are anchored by large apparel tenants (instead of home improvement or electronics stores) and at prices about 25% less than Limited Too. Stevens said the stores mostly cater to parents with median incomes of $90,000.

There are 569 Limited Too stores, averaging 4,200 sf, in 46 states and Puerto Rico, as well as 22 in the Middle East. Stevens said there will be a net increase of up to 30 new stores this year, and another 50 that are being remodeled. “We further believe that we can grow this to a 650- to 750-store chain,” he said at the conference.