PHOENIX—WSS, an urban specialty footwear retailer with neighborhood-based stores, continues its Western US marketplace expansion by opening three new stores in Mesa, AZ and Phoenix. WSS has been a Southern California-based sports retailer for more than 30 years. Its business model has allowed WSS to continue its rapid expansion into new markets such as Arizona.
Combined, the three stores span more than 45,000 square feet and will be open seven days a week. WSS' large store format houses brands including Nike, Jordan, Vans, Under Armour, Converse, Adidas, Puma and Skechers, in addition to private brands.
Roderic Aiken, WSS vice president of marketing, tells GlobeSt.com: "WSS is continuing its corporate growth plan to expand our concept into new communities. Phoenix is a dynamic market, where our customer base has a strong following. We are looking forward to bringing our excellent selection of product for the entire family, and strong customer service reputation to the Phoenix area."
Customers can visit the new stores at the following locations:
• November 20 grand opening at 3949 E. Thomas Rd., Suite Y-1 in Phoenix, a 10,200-square-foot store in the former Fresh Start Treasures building.
• November 20 grand opening at 2020 N. 75th Ave., at Desert Sky Esplanade at the northwest corner of McDowell Road and 75th Avenue in Phoenix. The 12,120-square-foot store will be in the former Shoe Carnival location.
• The Mesa store opened on October 24 at 1036 E. Southern Ave. in the Mesa Ranch shopping center on the northwest corner of Southern and Stapley. The store is 12,000 square feet and is in the former Shoe Carnival location.
WSS was founded in 1984. The company has 70 stores in California and Nevada, and is currently expanding into Texas, as well as Arizona. Velocity Retail Group's Darren Pitts and Andy Kroot represented WSS in its Arizona expansion. Each of the stores range in size from 10,000 to 12,000 square feet.
"We're only just beginning to build out our neighborhood presence and look forward to serving the best retail brands to the Phoenix community," said Aiken. "Our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve is what makes WSS unique and exciting."
In addition to opening the three new stores, WSS has built relationships with local civic leadership including Phoenix mayor Greg Stanton and Mesa mayor John Giles to have an increased presence in the community. Each year, WSS sponsors or participates in more than 350 local events and it will be announcing a new commitment to raise funds for local community partners such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix and Boys & Girls Clubs Grant Woods – Mesa Branch.
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Lisa Brown
Lisa Brown is an editor for the south and west regions of GlobeSt.com. She has 25-plus years of real estate experience, with a regional PR role at Grubb & Ellis and a national communications position at MMI. Brown also spent 10 years as executive director at NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area chapter, where she led the organization to achieving its first national award honors and recognition on Capitol Hill. She has written extensively on commercial real estate topics and edited numerous pieces on the subject.
