Finish Line to Debut New Nike Concept

INDIANAPOLIS-With its acquisition of Genesco pending and comp sales struggling, the Finish Line is holding off on expansion plans for its existing concepts beyond this year. However, it plans to debut a new concept with Nike sometime before the middle of 2008, executives said during a first-quarter conference call.

The new concept is a multi-product approach to showcasing Nike goods, said Chairman and CEO Alan H. Cohen. “The store will have a new look and feel,” he said. “We hope to introduce our new concept in the first half of 2008.”

The company will open a total of 21 Finish Line stores, two Paiva and 11 Man Alive units this year. But there are no plans to expand Paiva or Man Alive after that, and Finish Line expansions depend on the Genesco deal. Finish Line announced on June 18 that it would acquire Genesco in a $1.5 billion-deal that is expected to close in the fall.